Road crashes claim lives of 15 nationwide today

At least 15 people were killed and several others injured in a series of road accidents across six districts on Saturday (May 23), as traffic pressure intensified on highways ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha holidays.

The deadliest crash took place in the southwestern district of Kushtia, where five people were killed after a passenger bus collided head-on with a sand-laden truck in Khoksa Upazila's Shialdangi area around 11:30am.

Police said the Rajbari-bound “Tanha Paribahan” bus lost control while attempting to avoid a van on the highway before slamming into the truck and plunging into a roadside ditch. Several passengers were injured and rushed to Kushtia General Hospital and Khoksa Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

In the northern district of Dinajpur, three motorcycle riders were killed after a speeding truck rammed into their bike in Raniganj area of Ghoraghat Upazila on Saturday morning. Police later seized the truck and detained its helper.

Another major collision in Jashore left four people dead and two injured after a covered van crashed into an easy-bike and a motorcycle in Chaulia area of Jashore Sadar around 11:30 am. Two victims died on the spot, while two others succumbed to injuries at Jashore General Hospital.

In Sirajganj’s Tarash Upazila, a cattle-laden locally made vehicle overturned after hitting a large pothole on the road, killing driver Aynal Haque on the spot while he was heading to a cattle market ahead of Eid.

Meanwhile, in Joypurhat, a BRAC employee was killed after a speeding truck hit his motorcycle near the district Shilpakala Academy on Saturday morning.

Another unidentified man, believed to be mentally unstable, was killed in Faridpur’s Bhanga area after being run over by an unidentified vehicle on the Dhaka-Barishal highway.

Police in the affected districts said investigations were underway and legal action would be taken in connection with the accidents.