Seven killed in road accidents

Seven people were killed in three road accidents in Sylhet, Netrakona and Barguna districts yesterday.

In Golapganj upazila of Sylhet, five people died and one was injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a CNG-driven auto-rickshaw on the Beanibazar-Sylhet road, reports our Sylhet correspondent.

The accident took place in Chowghari Bazar area, said police.

Three of the deceased were identified as auto-rickshaw driver Bahar Uddin (40), Md Jakaria (30), and Lal Miah (27).

Identities of the other deceased and the injured could not be confirmed till 3pm yesterday. All of them were passengers of the auto-rickshaw.

Harunur Rashid Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Golapganj Police Station, said, "The collision killed one on the spot, two others died on the way to hospital, while the other two died while undergoing treatment at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. The injured is undergoing treatment at the hospital," he said.

Police seized the bus, the OC said.

At Chanduile Bridge of Kalmakanda upazila in Netrakona, a lorry driver was killed and his helper injured in a road accident early yesterday, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.

The victim was identified as Robi Hossain (25), of Durgapur upazila.

Quoting locals, Officer-in-Charge of Kalmakanda Police Station Mazharul Karim said a stone-laden lorry from Durgapur skidded off a road and fell into a roadside pond, killing Robi on the spot and injuring helper Nurul Islam (27) around 2am.

On information, police and fire fighters rushed to the spot, rescued the injured and recovered the dead body.

The helper was treated at Kalmakanda Upazila Health Complex.

The body was handed over to Robi's family members, the OC said. A case was lodged in this regard.

At Barguna's Amtali upazila, one was killed and at least 10 people were injured on Patuakhali-Kuakata road around 12pm yesterday, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

The deceased was identified as Md Khalilur Rahman (40), of Kanaimrodha village under Patuakhali's Kalapara upazila.

The accident took place while Khalil was going to Kalapara from Amtali upazila town by his motorbike. Suddenly, a passenger bus from Kuakata hit him from the opposite direction after the bus driver lost control, police said.

After the collision, the bus hit a roadside coconut tree, injuring at least 10 people.

Of the injured, three were sent to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition, while the rest were taken to Amtali Upazila Health Complex.

Md Helal Uddin, OC (inquiry) of Amtali Police Station, said, "We have recovered the body from the spot and sent it to Barguna General Hospital for autopsy."

Police have seized the bus but its driver, supervisor, and helper managed to evade arrest, he added.