Two people were killed and at least seven others injured when a Dhaka-bound passenger bus crashed into the rear of a stone-laden truck that had broken down and was left standing on the Dhaka-Rangpur Highway in Sherpur upazila of Bogura.
The victims were identified as Masudur Rahman, 38, a raw-material trader from Chandpir village in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon, and Mohammad Nayan, 38, the bus’s helper, from Jahanpur village in the same upazila. Both died at the scene of the accident.
The crash occurred at around 11.30pm on Sunday, 2 August, in the Chhonka area of the highway. Ayub Ali, officer-in-charge of the Sherpur Highway Police Station, confirmed the incident on Monday afternoon.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the stone-laden truck had reportedly broken down in the Dhaka-bound lane of the highway in the Chhonka area about two days before the crash. The vehicle remained on the highway for an extended period, creating a potential hazard for passing motorists, particularly at night.
The accident took place when a Dhaka-bound bus operated by Jamuna Line Transport was travelling through the area. Police said the bus was moving at considerable speed when its driver apparently failed to notice the stationary truck in time. The bus then struck the back of the truck with considerable force.
The impact left the front section of the bus badly mangled. Nayan, the bus helper, and passenger Masudur Rahman died at the scene. At least seven other passengers sustained injuries in the collision.
Soon after the crash, local residents and personnel from the Sherpur Fire Service and Civil Defence reached the scene and began rescue operations. Some passengers were reportedly trapped inside the damaged bus and had to be rescued. The injured were taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura for treatment. They remained under medical care, although details of their conditions were not immediately available.
Ayub Ali said the preliminary assessment suggested that the bus’s speed may have contributed to the crash. The driver may not have been able to see the disabled truck in sufficient time to take evasive action, resulting in the collision. However, he stressed that the precise circumstances would be established through an investigation.
Police have seized both the bus and the truck as part of the investigation. The truck’s driver and helper reportedly fled the scene after the accident. Authorities are working to identify and apprehend them.
Following the completion of legal formalities, the bodies of the two victims were handed over to their families. A case has been filed at Sherpur Police Station under the Road Transport Act.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by disabled vehicles left on busy highways, particularly after dark. The Dhaka-Rangpur Highway is a major transport corridor linking the capital with northern Bangladesh and carries a heavy volume of passenger buses, freight trucks and other vehicles throughout the day and night.
When a large vehicle becomes stranded on a main carriageway, the risk of a secondary collision can rise sharply, especially if approaching drivers cannot see it clearly from a safe distance. Traffic safety specialists generally stress the importance of moving disabled vehicles off the main carriageway as quickly as possible. Where immediate removal is not possible, warning signs, hazard lights, reflective markings and adequate advance alerts can help approaching drivers slow down and avoid a collision.
Whether appropriate warning measures had been put in place around the stranded truck before Sunday’s crash remains part of the investigation. The findings are expected to clarify the circumstances that led to the fatal collision and determine whether any negligence contributed to the tragedy.
