Death trap on highway

Five people, including three of a family,  died early yesterday in yet another horror crash as bloodletting continues unabated on the west side of Bangabandhu Bridge.

A Chapainawabganj-bound bus collided head-on with an auto-rickshaw at Mulibari level crossing around 1:00 am, leaving all passengers and driver of the three-wheeler dead on the spot.

The deceased were identified as Razzak, 65, his daughter Rozina, 30, wife Momtaz, 45, Anwar Hossain, 25, and auto-rickshaw driver Arman, 30.

They hailed from different villages in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj.

Jakir Hossain, 37, a bus passenger, sustained injury in the accident, said Md Helal Uddin, OC of Bangabandhu Bridge West Zone Police Station.

He was taken to Sirajganj General Hospital, the OC added.

In a separate accident on Sunday, 17 people were killed and around 40 injured as two buses collided head-on in Mulibari.

At least 30 people died and 70 others injured in four separate road accidents in Mulibari crossing and Baniagati in the last six days. 

"Accidents occur repeatedly on the two-lane road at Mulibari as it is the busiest point of Bangabandhu Bridge link road," said Miraz Uddin Ahmed, SP of Sirajganj.  

"As there is no road divider at this point, drivers tend to drive at high speeds which results in accidents," he added.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader visited accident-prone stretches on the west side of the bridge yesterday morning.

Talking to journalists, the minister said, "Four road dividers will be introduced at Mulibari, Shimanto Bazar, Nalka and Baniagati points within two months."

Reckless driving and dangerous overtaking manoeuvre by drivers are causing road accidents, he said.