Bus driver held over Dhaka-Mawa expressway crash that killed 5

Police have arrested the driver of a bus involved in a fatal crash on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway that left five people dead and at least 13 others injured.

Abu Taher alias Apu, 29, driver of the Dhaka-bound Hamdan Express bus, was arrested last night in the Gandop Kashimpur area in Narail's Lohagara upazila during a joint operation by the Rapid Action Battalion and Hashara Highway Police members.

Abdul Qader Jilani, officer-in-charge of Hashara Highway Police Station, confirmed the arrest.

The collision occurred early Saturday in Munshiganj's Hashara area, when the bus collided head-on with a truck on the northern lane of the expressway.

A case was filed under Sections 98 and 105 of the Road Transport Act 2018 with Sreenagar Police Station.

Md Imran Hossain, 28, nephew of one of the deceased, Md Jalal Uddin, had filed the case.

Of the five fatalities, two people died on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and one passed away at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), police said.

At least 13 passengers were injured, with several reported to be in critical condition.

Legal proceedings are underway against the arrested driver.