Two passengers were killed and five others injured after a passenger bus slammed into the rear of a stationary lorry on the Dhaka-Bogura highway in Sherpur upazila of Bogura on Sunday night.
The accident occurred at around 11.30pm on 2 August in the Chhonka area, on the Dhaka-bound lane of the highway. The collision left the front section of the bus badly damaged and caused serious injuries to several passengers.
The deceased have been identified as Mashudur Rahman, 38, son of Abdul Gafur of Chhankuri village in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon, and Nayan, 38, son of Osman Ali of Jahanpur village in the same upazila.
According to Sherpur Highway Police, a lorry bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-Ta-18-2185 was stationary on the Dhaka-bound lane. A passenger bus, registered as Dhaka Metro-Ba-12-5455, was travelling towards Dhaka when it reportedly struck the rear of the lorry at high speed.
The force of the impact caused significant damage to the front of the bus. Several passengers were injured in the crash, prompting local residents to rush to the scene and assist with the rescue operation.
Two of the injured passengers were in critical condition and were taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. Doctors on duty examined them and declared both dead. The five other injured passengers were receiving treatment at the hospital.
The collision also temporarily disrupted traffic on the busy highway. Vehicles moving through the area faced some congestion and slower movement as the damaged vehicles occupied part of the roadway. After receiving information about the crash, officers from Sherpur Highway Police promptly reached the scene and took steps to manage the situation. Traffic was later restored to normal following the necessary procedures.
Ayub Ali, in-charge of Sherpur Highway Police Outpost, said officers visited both the accident site and the hospital after being informed of the incident. The police completed the required legal procedures, after which the bodies of the two deceased passengers were handed over to their families for burial.
The immediate circumstances surrounding the collision remain under examination. Preliminary information indicates that the lorry was standing on the Dhaka-bound lane when the bus struck it from behind. However, it has not yet been established why the bus failed to avoid the stationary vehicle. Investigators may need to determine whether excessive speed, driver inattention, loss of control or poor visibility contributed to the crash.
Rear-end collisions involving stationary or slow-moving vehicles can be particularly severe at night, when drivers may have less time to identify hazards and react safely. Maintaining a safe following distance, reducing speed in areas with limited visibility and remaining alert to vehicles stopped on the carriageway are therefore essential precautions for highway users.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks associated with vehicles being left stationary on major highways without adequate warning measures. When a vehicle becomes disabled or has to stop unexpectedly, appropriate warning signals and other safety precautions are necessary to alert approaching traffic.
With two lives lost and five people injured in the Sherpur crash, the accident has renewed concerns over road safety, night-time driving practices and the need for greater caution when stationary vehicles are present on busy highways.
