Two women from the same family, a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, were killed after being struck by a passenger bus in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, in northern Bangladesh, on Saturday morning.
The accident occurred at around 6am on 10 October in the Thakurpara area of Nilakhia, along the Dhaka–Bakshiganj highway. The victims were identified as Ufeja Begum, 65, and her daughter-in-law, Farida Begum, 35. Both were residents of the same village.
According to local sources, a passenger bus operated by Shanti Paribahan had left Dhaka and was travelling towards Roumari in Kurigram district. At around 6am, as the bus passed through the Nilakhia Thakurpara area of Bakshiganj Upazila, it struck Ufeja and Farida, who were standing beside the road.
Both women died at the scene, local sources said.
News of the accident spread quickly through the area, leaving relatives and neighbours grieving the sudden loss of two members of the same family. Further details about the victims’ families and their circumstances were not immediately available.
Police from Bakshiganj Police Station arrived at the scene after being informed of the incident. They seized the bus involved in the collision and detained its helper, identified as Mohiuddin.
Bakshiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mokbul Hossain confirmed the seizure and detention. He said the bus had been taken into police custody and that legal proceedings in connection with the accident were under way.
The precise circumstances that led to the collision have not yet been established. The available information does not clarify the speed at which the bus was travelling, the role of the driver or whether other factors contributed to the incident. These questions may be addressed as the investigation progresses.
The deaths have renewed attention to the risks faced by pedestrians near busy roads. People standing or walking beside highways can be particularly vulnerable to passing vehicles, especially in areas where roads run through residential communities.
Observance of speed limits, careful driving and awareness of pedestrians are essential to improving road safety. Drivers need to remain alert when passing through populated areas, while appropriate road-safety measures can help reduce the risks to people using the roadside.
Establishing the cause of an accident is also important in determining responsibility and ensuring that appropriate legal action is taken where necessary.
Police have confirmed that the bus has been seized and its helper detained, while legal proceedings continue. Further information about the circumstances of the collision and the findings of the investigation has yet to be released.
