Two people were killed and two others injured in a three-way collision on the Chandpur-Cumilla regional highway in Chandpur Sadar upazila.
The deceased were identified as Mohar Ali, 60, CNG driver Kabir Mal. The detailed identities of Kabir Mal and the two injured persons could not be known immediately.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in front of Mandari Kamal Miji Bari, adjacent to Mahamaya in the upazila. The collision involved a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, a private car and a pickup van.
Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-charge (OC), Faiyez Ahmed confirmed the deaths of two people and said their bodies had been handed over to their families.
According to locals, the Hajiganj-bound CNG-run auto-rickshaw was carrying passengers from Chandpur when a private car ahead suddenly braked. The auto-rickshaw rammed into the car from behind, lost control and veered into the path of an oncoming pickup van.
The driver and passengers of the auto-rickshaw were thrown onto the road in the impact. Locals rescued them and rushed them to the 250-bed Chandpur Sadar Hospital, where the doctor declared one person dead.
Another critically injured victim died on the way to Dhaka for advanced treatment, while the remaining two injured people received treatment at the hospital.
Swapan Mahmud, former chairman of Shah Mahmudpur Union Parishad, visited the scene and assisted locals in keeping traffic movement normal on the highway.
Police from Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station later visited the spot, seized the three vehicles and took them to the police station.
