A tragic road accident in Sunamganj district claimed the lives of two people, including a minibus (locally known as laguna) driver, following a head-on collision between a passenger minibus and a long-distance coach bus at Ahsanamara Bridge area under Shantiganj upazila on Wednesday afternoon.
According to local sources, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 pm when a Dhaka-bound intercity coach, identified as Khadiza VIP, collided directly with a locally operated minibus carrying passengers returning home. The violent impact left the smaller vehicle severely mangled and caused widespread panic among passengers and bystanders in the area.
The deceased have been identified as 25-year-old Ibrahim Mia, the driver of the minibus from Joykalas Union in Shantiganj upazila, and 18-year-old Jahid Mia, a resident of Narayanpur village in Sadar upazila of Sunamganj district. Jahid Mia died instantly at the scene, while Ibrahim Mia sustained critical injuries and was rushed towards Sylhet for advanced medical treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.
In addition to the fatalities, five other passengers from the same family were injured in the crash. They were travelling together in the minibus when the collision occurred. Witnesses reported that the bus struck the vehicle at high speed, leaving little chance for passengers to react or escape safely.
Eyewitness Abdul Jahar, who was among the passengers, recounted that the group was returning home from Sunamganj when the accident took place. He stated that just moments before the collision, the minibus had approached the Ahsanamara Bridge area. He narrowly escaped death by jumping out of the vehicle in a split second after noticing the approaching bus. He further added that several passengers were trapped or thrown inside the vehicle due to the impact.
Local authorities, including the Shantiganj Upazila Health Officer Dr Iqbal Hasan and Sunamganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ratan Sheikh, confirmed the deaths and stated that the injured were initially given emergency treatment. The injured individuals include members of the same family, some of whom sustained moderate to serious injuries.
Details of Victims and Injured
| Category | Name | Age | Address/Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deceased | Ibrahim Mia | 25 | Driver, Joykalas Union, Shantiganj | Died en route |
| Deceased | Jahid Mia | 18 | Narayanpur, Sunamganj Sadar | Died on spot |
| Injured | Abdul Jahar | 42 | Family member, Sadar upazila | Receiving treatment |
| Injured | Lutfa Begum | 5 | Daughter of Abdul Jahan | Injured |
| Injured | Abdul Jahan | 42 | Sadar upazila | Injured |
| Injured | Touhij Mia | 55 | Family member | Injured |
| Injured | Kalpona Begum | 45 | Wife of Touhij Mia | Injured |
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. Initial suspicion points towards reckless driving or failure to maintain lane discipline, though officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause. Local residents have once again raised concerns over road safety in the area, particularly near bridge zones where visibility and road width are limited.