Several passengers were trapped inside a Hanif Paribahan bus following a collision with an Ena Paribahan coach on the Dhaka–Mawa Expressway in Sreenagar, Munshiganj, in the early hours of Friday. Fire service personnel broke open the bus door to bring the passengers to safety. No casualties were reported.
The accident occurred at around 2am on Friday, 9 October, on the Mawa-bound lane of the expressway, in front of the Hasara passenger shelter in Sreenagar upazila.
According to the Fire Service, two units from the Sreenagar Fire Station rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the collision. Rescue operations began soon after their arrival, as several passengers were unable to get out of the Hanif Paribahan bus through its door.
Using the necessary equipment, firefighters broke open the door and helped the trapped passengers out safely. The prompt response enabled the rescue team to bring the operation to a successful conclusion without any reported deaths or injuries.
Preliminary information suggests that the Ena Paribahan bus had applied its brakes to avoid hitting a motorcycle travelling ahead. The Hanif Paribahan bus, which was approaching from behind, then struck the Ena coach. Excessive speed was cited in the initial account as a possible reason the Hanif bus driver lost control of the vehicle.
Muhammad Shafiqul Islam PFM, deputy assistant director of Munshiganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the Ena Paribahan bus was travelling from Dhaka to Kuakata, while the Hanif Paribahan bus was heading towards Khulna.
The collision left several passengers inside the Hanif bus unable to exit normally, prompting the emergency response. Two fire service units worked at the scene to free them. All those trapped were rescued safely, according to the official account.
The incident highlights the risks that can arise when vehicles travel too close together on high-speed roads. A sudden braking manoeuvre may leave a following driver with little time to react, particularly if the vehicle is travelling too fast or maintaining an insufficient safety gap. Keeping a safe distance, observing speed limits and remaining alert to changing traffic conditions are essential measures for reducing the likelihood of such collisions.
The Dhaka–Mawa Expressway carries traffic between the capital and destinations towards southern Bangladesh. As vehicles use the route for long-distance journeys, careful driving and appropriate speed management remain important for passenger safety.
Although no casualties were reported in Friday’s incident, the passengers’ entrapment underlines the importance of rapid emergency assistance when a road collision leaves people unable to leave a vehicle. The swift intervention by the Sreenagar Fire Service units ensured that those trapped inside the bus were brought to safety.
The account of the incident identifies excessive speed as a possible contributing factor, but no further findings from a formal investigation were provided in the available information.
