Seven people have been killed after a passenger bus lost control and rammed into a group of day labourers waiting for work along the Bogura–Naogaon regional highway in northern Bangladesh.
The fatal accident occurred at around 5:30 a.m. on Friday in front of Erulia High School in Bogura Sadar Upazila. According to local authorities, the labourers had gathered by the roadside, as they routinely do each morning in the hope of securing daily employment, when the out-of-control bus veered off the road and struck them.
Officials confirmed that all seven victims have now been identified. They were Bellal Hossain, 40, of Fapor Madhyapara in Bogura Sadar; Nur Mohammad Sardar, 75, of Narhatta Sardar Para in Kahalu Upazila; Md Anarul Islam, 55, of Kalai in Joypurhat; Amirul, 40, of Panchbibi; Abu Sayed, 45, of Gobindaganj in Gaibandha; Nur Alam, 45, also from Gobindaganj; and Md Tajimul, 47, of Parbatipur in Dinajpur.
Police said three of the victims died at the scene, while four others later succumbed to their injuries after being taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. Several additional victims remain under treatment, with at least one patient reported to be in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Following news of the tragedy, the Prime Minister’s personal physician, Dr Monowarul Kadir Bitu, visited the hospital to assess the condition of the injured. Accompanied by the hospital director, he met patients and medical staff before speaking to journalists.
Dr Bitu said the Prime Minister was deeply concerned by the accident and had sought updates on the victims’ condition. He noted that many of the injured had suffered serious head and leg injuries. Those requiring immediate treatment had already received medical care, while the hospital had been instructed to ensure the availability of all necessary medicines and blood supplies. Patients requiring advanced treatment would be referred to hospitals in Dhaka if necessary.
He also confirmed that discussions had already taken place with the district administration, which has initiated an official investigation into the incident.
According to Officer-in-Charge Ibrahim Ali of Bogura Sadar Police Station, preliminary findings indicate that the bus driver attempted to avoid a motorcyclist before losing control of the vehicle. The bus first crashed into a roadside pole before mounting the roadside area where the labourers were standing.
The damaged bus has since been taken into police custody as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The accident sparked protests by local residents, who demanded stronger road safety measures at the site. In response, officials from the Roads and Highways Department began constructing speed breakers near the accident location. After work commenced, protesters withdrew the road blockade, allowing traffic to resume normal movement along the highway.
Bogura Deputy Commissioner Md Toufiqur Rahman later visited the injured at the hospital and announced financial assistance for those affected. The family of each deceased victim will receive Tk 25,000, while every injured person will receive Tk 15,000 to help meet immediate expenses.
The district administration has also formed a three-member inquiry committee, headed by the Additional District Magistrate, to investigate the causes of the accident. The committee has been instructed to submit its findings within three working days, including recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.
The incident has once again drawn attention to road safety on Bangladesh’s regional highways, particularly in locations where day labourers gather beside busy roads while seeking employment. Authorities are expected to examine both the immediate cause of the crash and any wider safety issues that may have contributed to the loss of life.
