No let-up in road fatalities

Deaths in road accidents continue to climb as 17 more people lost their lives in different districts yesterday, taking the death toll in road crashes across the country to nearly 100 in the last eight days.

Thursday was the deadliest day with 24 deaths reported.

The roads are now crammed with vehicles carrying Eid holidaymakers who have been the common victims.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983, would be made an act, keeping the provision of stern punishment against those responsible for road accidents.

Visiting the development work of an eight-lane road at Shimrail intersection in Narayanganj, he also said the move would aim at preventing the culprits from escaping, reports our correspondent there.

DHAKA

Three people were killed in road mishaps at different parts in the capital yesterday.

Special Branch of police constable Sohel Rana, 36, died on the spot when a Farmgate-bound bus hit his motorcycle from behind and ran him over in Karwan Bazar area around 3:00pm, said witnesses.

Police caught the bus driver, Abdul Khaleque, and seized the vehicle.

Around 5:00am, another bus lost control and hit the road divider at Khilkhet. The impact was so powerful that one of the passengers, Nasrin Akter, 19, fell on the ground, breaking the window glass.

She died later. She had just returned to the capital, spending her Eid holidays, said her relatives.

An unidentified man was killed after he was hit by a bus at East Shewrapara yesterday morning.

GAZIPUR

At least five people were killed and five others injured in an accident in Nawjor area of Gazipur city on Dhaka-Tangail highway yesterday morning.

Police said a Dhaka-bound covered van collided head-on with a Konabari-bound human haulier around 7:30am, killing three people on the spot. Two more people later succumbed to their injuries in a hospital, reports our correspondent.

The dead are human haulier driver Saidul, 20, passengers Shohel Mia, 30, Selina Bagum, 28, and Manira Begum, 26. The identity of the other victim could not be known immediately.

Among the injured, Enamul Haque, 35, Mamun, 55, and Panir, 28, were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical conditions.

TANGAIL

Two road accidents claimed three lives and injured 20 others in Mirzapur and Sadar upazilas on Thursday night and yesterday.

A Dhaka-bound bus ran over a bicycle in Tangail Sadar upazila on Dhaka-Tangail highway yesterday morning, leaving the rider critically wounded.

Kamruzzaman Raj, sub-inspector of Elenga Highway Police Outpost, told our correspondent that the  man was declared dead after he was rushed to Tangail Medical College Hospital.

The victim is Selim Miah, 26, of Darun village in the district.

Around 11:30pm on Thursday, a Dhaka-bound bus from Gaibandha lost control and fell into a roadside ditch at Sohagpara in Mirzapur, killing two people on the spot, said police.

The dead are Shahanur Begum, 30, of Gaibandha and Rokonuzzaman, 25, of Nilphamari.

The injured were admitted to Kumudini Hospital in Mirzapur, while the bodies were handed over to the victims' families on completion of legal procedures, said Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Gorai Highway Police Station.

MADARIPUR

Four people perished when a bus and a microbus collided head-on in Melkai area of Tarash upazila, reports UNB.

Emdadul Haque, officer-in-charge of Kalkini Police Station, said the Barisal-bound bus collided with the Dhaka-bound microbus on Dhaka-Barisal highway around 1:00pm, leaving four people dead instantly and eight others injured.

On information, police recovered the bodies. The injured were admitted to Kalkini Upazila Health Complex.

Four more people lost their lives in road accidents in Sherpur,    Bogra, Narayanganj and Barisal yesterday.