Fatal Head-On Bus Crash Kills Two on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway

A horrific head-on collision between two inter-district passenger buses left two people dead, including a driver, and at least twenty others injured in the Bahubal upazila of Habiganj. The fatal accident occurred at approximately 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 8 July, on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway near the Dubaoi Bazar area, directly in front of the Akij Venture Company premises.

The collision involved a Dhaka-bound Unique Paribahan coach travelling from Sylhet and a Sylhet-bound Lucky Paribahan bus operating in the opposite direction. Upon entering the Dubaoi Bazar sector, the two fast-moving vehicles crashed directly into each other. The sheer force of the impact caused the Unique Paribahan coach to veer wildly out of control, skidding off the tarmac before plunging into a steep roadside ditch. Meanwhile, the Lucky Paribahan bus was left severely crumpled on the highway.

The driver of the Unique Paribahan vehicle, identified as fifty-year-old Tajul Islam, a resident of Katiadi upazila in Kishoreganj, died on the spot from catastrophic injuries sustained in the impact. Emergency responders transported the severely injured passengers to nearby medical facilities, where a second victim succumbed to his wounds shortly after admission. The identity of this second casualty has not yet been established by the authorities.

The Dhaka-Sylhet highway is one of the country’s most vital economic corridors, yet it remains notorious for severe traffic accidents, particularly during the twilight and early morning hours when driver fatigue and high speeds frequently combine to create perilous driving conditions. Alongside the two fatalities, at least twenty passengers, including the driver of the Lucky Paribahan bus, sustained moderate to critical injuries.

Local residents were the first to arrive at the scene to pull survivors from the wreckage. They were quickly joined by teams from the Bahubal Fire Service and local police units. The injured were categorised by the severity of their wounds and taken to the Bahubal Upazila Health Complex and other regional hospitals for urgent treatment.

The aftermath of the crash caused severe disruption on the primary transport artery, resulting in a total traffic standstill that lasted for nearly two hours. Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on both sides of the highway, disrupting commuter travel and logistics. Personnel from the Shayestaganj Highway Police and the Bahubal Fire Service worked swiftly to coordinate the clearance operation, utilising heavy recovery vehicles to tow the damaged buses away and restore the normal flow of traffic by 7:00 AM.

Sub-Inspector Md. Billal Hossain of the Shayestaganj Highway Police confirmed the casualties and clarified that the rescue operation had concluded successfully. He added that law enforcement officials have initiated a comprehensive inquiry to uncover the definitive cause of the crash, examining factors such as potential mechanical malfunction, driver fatigue, or reckless overtaking.