Three people were killed and at least 30 others injured after a bus lost control and plunged into a roadside ditch in Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj on Sunday morning.
One of the deceased was identified as Sheikh Anichur Rahman, a resident of Daulatpur in Khulna. The identities of the other two victims could not immediately be established.
According to eyewitnesses and injured passengers, the bus of Tungipara Express travelling from Khulna to Dhaka, was moving at high speed when rain began in the area.
The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which skidded off the Dhaka-Khulna Highway and plunged into a roadside ditch in the Salinaboksa area around 10am.
Around 40 passengers were on board at the time, they said. Three passengers died on the spot.
The injured were rescued and taken to Muksudpur Upazila Health Complex and other nearby hospitals.
Bhishmadev Mondal, a physician on duty at the health complex, said 17 injured passengers received treatment there. Four of them were in critical condition and were referred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
An injured passenger, Md Abdullah of Zianagar in Pirojpur, said the bus lost control because of the driver’s excessive speed.
Muksudpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed the deaths and said police had recovered the bodies.
Mahmud Ashik Kabir, Muksudpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer, visited the scene and said around 30 people were injured in the accident.
Authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. However, locals suspected that excessive speed and rain may have caused the accident.
Highway police, Fire Service personnel and local police took part in the rescue operation.
The body of Sheikh Anichur Rahman was later handed over to his relatives after completion of the necessary legal procedures.
Bhanga Highway Police Station OC Md Helal Uddin said the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) had been contacted to help identify the two unidentified victims.
Their bodies will be handed over to their families once their identities are confirmed.
