14 killed in Faridpur road accident

At least 14 people, including four of a family, were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a pick-up van on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Dignagar area of Kanaipur under Sadar upazila of Faridpur district today.

The deceased were identified as Rakibul Islam Milan,40, resident of Chhatrakanda village of Shekhar union under Boalmari upazila in Faridpur district, his wife Sumi, 30, two sons Abu Raihan, 6, and Abu Sinan Ruhan, 5, Morjina Begum,70, wife of Wahab Mollah of the same village, Sonia, 25, wife of Milton Sheikh of Alfadanga upazila, Surya, 60, of Hidadanga village, Nazrul Islam, 35, son of Sirajul Islam of Kusumdi village, Tabibur Rahman, 60, son of Rashid Khan of Charbail village and Kohinur, 55, wife of Ameer Ali of Hidadanga village.

Identities of the others deceased could not be known immediately. All victims were passengers of the pick-up van, Superintendent of Police Md. Morshed Alam said.

According to locals, a Magura-bound bus of Unique Paribahan, coming from Dhaka, collided head-on with a pickup van coming from Alphadanga of Faridpur around 7:45 am, leaving 11 people dead on the spot and five others injured, he added.

The injured were taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital while one of them died on the way to the hospital and two others succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Police recovered the bodies from the spot.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Kamrul Ahsan Talukdar said that a five-member investigation committee has been formed headed by District Magistrate Muhammad Ali Siddiqui to investigate the accident and the committee has been asked to submit its report within the next three working days.

The Superintendent of Police said that the district administration will pay Taka 5 lakh to the families of those killed in the accident and Taka 3 lakh to the families of those injured.

However, Taka 20,000 has been provided for the burial of the victims and Taka 10,000 in cash for treatment of the injured, the SP added. (BSS)