At least seven workers were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus lost control and ploughed into a group of labourers waiting for work on the roadside in Bogura early Friday.
The accident occurred at around 5:30am in the Silkybandha area of Erulia. Three people died at the scene and four others succumbed to their injuries at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, according to police.
The injured were rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment. Initial reports put the number of injured at 15, while police and local sources said at least 20 people were hurt.
Several of the injured were in critical condition, doctors said.
Police and local sources said a passenger AC coach operated by Fahet Ali was travelling from Dhaka to Naogaon when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
The bus first struck an electricity pole on the right side of the highway before ploughing into a group of workers who had gathered there in search of work.
Local residents recovered three bodies from the scene and rushed the injured to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, where four more people later died.
Police and Fire Service personnel joined the rescue operation following the crash.
Angry local residents later blocked the highway, halting traffic on the Bogura-Naogaon route. Vehicular movement remained suspended until at least 8:30am, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Media) Atowar Hossain confirmed the incident.
Bogura Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ibrahim Ali said several police teams, including personnel from the medical police outpost, were working at the scene and hospital.
Authorities were also compiling the names of those killed and injured, he said.
Highway police and local leaders were trying to persuade protesters to lift the blockade and restore traffic.
