A head-on collision between a truck and a microbus in Baraigram upazila of Natore district has left two children dead and three others seriously injured, prompting renewed concern over road safety on the busy highway.
The accident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday near the Royna Pump area along the Bonpara–Hatikumrul highway. According to police and local sources, a family was travelling from Rajshahi to Dhaka when their microbus was struck head-on by a fast-moving mango-laden pickup vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
The microbus was carrying engineer Akib Hossain, a resident of Lakshmipur area in Rajshahi, along with his wife, child, and other family members. Witnesses reported that the impact was so severe that the front section of the vehicle was completely crushed, trapping passengers inside and causing chaos at the scene.
Four-month-old infant Ejaz died instantly at the site of the crash. Local residents rushed to assist before fire service personnel arrived and carried out rescue operations. The injured were transported to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for urgent treatment. Among the injured were Akib Hossain himself, his wife Annie, his four-year-old son Ehan, and his mother Kona Begum.
Tragically, Ehan succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital, raising the death toll to two children. Medical officials have confirmed that the remaining three injured are in critical condition and are undergoing intensive treatment.
Police at Bonpara Highway Station have taken both damaged vehicles into custody for examination. Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman stated that an initial investigation has begun to determine the exact cause of the crash, and legal procedures are underway.
Local residents have expressed concern that accidents are frequent on this stretch of highway due to excessive speeding and risky overtaking, particularly by goods vehicles. They have called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, enhanced monitoring, and improved road discipline to prevent further tragedies.
Casualty Overview
| Name | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ejaz (4 months) | Son of Akib Hossain | Died at scene |
| Ehan (4 years) | Son of Akib Hossain | Died en route to hospital |
| Akib Hossain | Engineer, father | Injured, hospitalised |
| Annie | Mother | Injured, hospitalised |
| Kona Begum | Grandmother | Injured, hospitalised |
The incident has once again highlighted persistent weaknesses in highway safety management in Bangladesh. Road safety analysts argue that without stricter speed regulation, better driver training, and consistent enforcement against reckless overtaking, such fatal collisions are likely to continue on major inter-district routes.