A devastating road accident on the Barishal–Dhaka Highway claimed two lives on Friday morning, leaving three others critically injured. The collision occurred at approximately 9:45–10:00 am in the Kosba area of Gournadi Upazila, involving a passenger bus bound for Khulna and a microbus heading towards Barishal.
According to local police and fire service officials, the bus travelling from Dhaka collided head-on with the oncoming microbus near Kosba. Emergency teams from Gournadi Fire Service promptly reached the scene and transported the injured to a nearby hospital.
Casualties
The victims of the accident include:
Md. Wahedul Islam Ripon (40) – driver of the microbus, resident of Kolchar, Babuganj Upazila.
Md. Ilias Hossain (57) – passenger on the bus, resident of Elephant Road, Dhaka South City Corporation.
The three seriously injured passengers are:
Md. Moniruzzaman (40) – Khilkhet, Dhaka
Nuruzzaman (42) – Muradpur
Abdul Wajed (30) – Mongla, Bagerhat
Accident Summary
| Location | Time | Fatalities | Injured | Vehicles Involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gournadi, Kosba, Barishal | 09:45–10:00 am | 2 | 3 (critical) | Passenger bus & microbus |
Gournadi Fire Service Station Officer Md. Mizanur Rahman reported that the rescue team swiftly reached the accident site and sent the injured to hospital. One of the deceased was handed over to police for formalities.
Gournadi Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamim Sheikh added, “One of the critically injured died during hospital treatment. The others remain under medical care. The bus driver involved has fled the scene. Both vehicles have been seized and legal action will be taken.”
The collision temporarily disrupted traffic along the Dhaka–Barishal route, though normal flow has since resumed. Local residents have expressed concern, noting that the incident highlights persistent safety issues on the highway, including narrow road stretches and the reckless speed of passenger vehicles.
Authorities and local observers emphasise that the tragedy serves as a warning to both drivers and officials. They argue that stricter traffic management, speed regulation, and road safety measures are urgently required to prevent similar accidents in the future.
With this accident, the critical need for enhanced road safety on major highways has once again come to the fore, underscoring the importance of stringent enforcement and awareness campaigns to protect commuters.