5 killed, 36 injured in Netrokona, Kushtia road accidents

At least five people, including three of a family, were killed and 36 others injured in separate road accidents in Netrokona and Kushtia today.

In Netrokona, a woman, her two daughters, and a driver were killed when a bus hit a battery-run auto-rickshaw on the Netrokona-Mymensingh highway.

The deceased were identified as Nur Jahan, 45, and her daughters Smriti Akter, 15, and Iti Akter, 12 -- residents of Amli Keshabpur village in Sadar upazila; and three-wheeler driver Rehan Mia, said Hafizul Islam, district police spokesperson and additional superintendent of police (Special Branch).

Quoting eyewitnesses, police said the accident occurred around 11:30am at the Chollisha Bus Stand intersection when a Mohua Paribahan bus travelling from Mymensingh to Netrokona struck the auto-rickshaw.

Nur Jahan and her two daughters died on the spot. Five people, including Rehan and Nur Jahan's husband Ainul Haque suffered serious injuries.

Later, Rehan died under treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, confirmed Netrokona Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun.

The other injured are currently admitted at MMCH for advanced treatment.

Following the accident, locals blocked the highway and staged a protest.

Receiving information, Netrokona Sadar UNO Abdullah Al Bakiul Bari visited the scene.

According to the administration, traffic movement has since returned to normal and the situation remains calm.

Meanwhile, in Kushtia, at least one person was killed and 32 others injured when a bus carrying army recruits collided head-on with a passenger coach in Talbaria area of Mirpur upazila around 12:00pm.

The deceased, believed to be between 25 and 40 years old, has not yet been identified, said Abu Obayed, officer-in-charge of Chourhas Highway Police Station.

According to police, a bus carrying army recruits was travelling from Bogura Cantonment to Khulna Cantonment when it collided with a bus coming from the opposite direction.

Members of the fire service, police and local residents rescued the victims and sent them to the 250-bed Kushtia General Hospital.

Iqbal Hasan, resident medical officer of the hospital, said 32 injured people had been admitted for treatment.

Among them, one person was brought dead to the hospital, he added.

Our correspondents from Netrokona and Kushtia contributed to this report.