4 killed as bus hits human hauler in Manikganj

Four people were killed and two others were injured when a bus hit a human hauler, causing it to fall into a ditch next to the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Manikganj's Sadar upazila this morning.

The deceased were identified as driver Zahid Hossain, 34, of Bhatbaur village, Mahadev Modak, 52, of Patrail village, Hena Akhter, 50, and Maleka Begum, 55, of Bagjan village under Sadar upazila, said police.

Manikganj Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Shariful Islam said, "Our members immediately went to the spot after hearing about the accident in the morning. We recovered four bodies from the ditch and sent them to the hospital morgue for autopsy."

A passenger who suffered serious injuries, Md Musa, 50, was taken to a hospital in Dhaka for better treatment. Another injured, Nasir Hossain, 45, is undergoing treatment at the 250-bed Manikganj General Hospital, our Manikganj correspondent reports quoting police.

Alamgir Hossain, who witnessed the accident, said the human hauler was heading towards Manikganj Bus Stand around 8:30am.

The vehicle stopped on the highway at Bhatbaur and started to unload its passengers there. A bus of Akij Textile hit the vehicle from behind, causing it to fall into a roadside ditch.

Officer-in-charge of Gola Highway Police Station Shukendu Basu said the bus was seized but the driver escaped.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jyotishwar Pal said the administration will hand over Tk 20,000 to the families of each of the deceased as compensation.