Five killed in bike accidents

Five people including two cops were killed in three separate motorcycle accidents yesterday, indicating the sharp rise in accidents of the two wheeler vehicle across the country.

In Lalmonirhat, two policemen were killed on the spot as a bus hit their motorcycle at Khaner Bazar area of Hatibandha upazila on Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway yesterday afternoon. The policemen were working in the police detective branch of Hatibandha police station.

The deceased were identified as Sub Inspector (SI) Abdul Matin and Constable Mujibul Alam Haji of Hatibandha police station.

Hatibandha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ershadul Alam confirmed that the bodies of the deceased were recovered and taken to the police station.

The truck was seized but its driver and helper escaped, OC said.

The deceased SI Abdul Matin was a resident of Bhurungamari in Kurigram and constable Mujibul Alam of Gangachawra in Rangpur, police said.

Hatibandha thana OC said, the deceased policemen were returning from Barakhata area of Hatibandha Upazila to the police station on a motorcycle.

Their bike was crushed under a stone-loaded truck while they were trying to overtake the truck coming from the Burimari land port at Khaner Bazar area.

Meanwhile in Dhaka, a couple were killed after a bus hit their motorcycle in Dhaka airport area yesterday morning.  The deceased were identified as Akash Iqbal (33) and his wife Maya Hazarika (25).

In Cumilla, a man was killed on the spot and injured two others critically at Kaptanbazar Pakkarmatha near Gumti river bank in Cumilla town at 2:45 pm yesterday. 

OC of Kotwali Model police station Anwarul Haq confirmed it.

The deceased was identified as Kamrul Islam Shimul, 43, a resident of Bishnopur of Cumilla town.

Local shopkeepers said, "Two motorcycles collided head on. One motorcycle was going uphill towards Gumti river bank. At the same time another motorcycle was overtaking a drum truck from the opposite side."

According to Nirapad Sarak Chai, at least 4,969 people were killed and 5,058 were injured in 4,092 different types of accidents last year. Of these, motorcyles were involved in highest number of accidents -- 1,127.

The rate of bike accidents was 19 percent in 2019 while it rose by eight percentage points to 27 percent last year, the study by Nirapad Sarak Chai found.