17 killed, over 40 injured in B’desh road accidents

At least 17 people, including a woman and a child, were killed and nearly 40 others injured in separate road accidents in Bangladesh on Friday. In the first incident, eight persons were killed and three others were injured when a bus and a microbus collided head-on on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Brahmanbarhia's Bijoynagar area, 114 kms from here, police officer Mohammad Humayun Kabir said.

The deceased, including seven men and a child, were travelling in the microbus. The accident led to an hour-long jam on the highway. In the second incident, five persons were killed and 21 others were injured when a Gazipur-bound bus overturned at Tangail's Kalihati Upazila on Dhaka-Tangail highway, Dhaka Tribune reported.

The bus was carrying a group of readymade garments workers, who were on their way to Gazipur's Safipur after spending the Eid holidays, police said. "The vehicle overturned when the driver lost control. Three of the passengers died on the spot. Two of them later died. The deceased include a woman. All 21 injured were admitted to nearby hospitals," he said.

Tangail's Deputy Commissioner Mahbub Hossain has announced a compensation of 20,000 taka ($255) to the next of the kin of those killed and 10,000 taka ($127) to the families of injured.

In another accident, four persons were killed and 15 others were wounded as a bus hit a three-wheeler on Dhaka-Barisal highway in the Rajoir area of Madaripur. Two persons died on the spot, while two others died in a hospital.