Staff Correspondent

Three investigation committees have visited the scene of the incident where Islamic University of Technology (IUT) students who were on a picnic were electrocuted in a BRTC double-decker bus in Sreepur, Gazipur.

Representatives from IUT, BUET and Palli Bidyut investigation teams visited the scene. The delegation stayed at the scene from 9 am to noon on Monday in Udaykhali area of Telihati Union of the upazila.

Islamic University of Technology (IUT) investigation team head Professor Rakib Hasan, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) professor Ziaur Rahman Khan and Mymensingh Palli Bidyut Samity-2 General Manager (GM) Akmal Hossain led the investigation team. However, members of the investigation team did not want to share any details with the local journalists present before the investigation.

In the case of the death of three students after being electrocuted in a double-decker bus, the investigation team of the BUET independent committee initially said that the electricity department, BRTC bus authorities and everyone involved are responsible.

When asked about the investigation, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Prof Ziaur Rahman Khan said, "We just came to see and saw where the mistake was. We spoke to the locals including the manager of Matir Maya Resort, Masud Yusuf. We will be able to comment on this after the investigation is completed."

He old reporters that after the incident came to our attention, a few of us went to the scene on the instructions of the concerned higher authorities. We visited the narrow road and power transmission lines in the village on the spot. What we saw was that the power transmission line had become lower in the past few years as the road to Matir Maya Resort had become at least 3 feet higher. Since the power transmission line was not elevated along the road, the roof of the BRTC double-decker bus came into contact with the high-power power transmission line.

Local resident Shamim Ahmed said that on the day of the incident, three double-decker buses were standing together. At that time, an auto-rickshaw was coming from the front. The student or the bus helper (driver's assistant) of the last three buses moved towards the auto-rickshaw with a stick in his hand. I was curious as to why the man was carrying a stick and why he was carrying a stick. Later, I also moved forward and saw him talking to the rickshaw driver. At one point, they got into an argument and were arguing loudly. Then the driver of the bus behind must have thought that he had to give way to the auto, the space was narrow. Later, when the driver wanted to move forward with the bus, the rear part of the bus hit the wire and sparks started immediately. At that time, a student was touching the metal and fell. Then, when one of the body was separated from the bus and called the electricity office, they immediately responded and disconnected the electricity connection.

Meanwhile, the workers of the Rural Electricity Department put up red signs as a dangerous area at the accident site on Sunday (November 24), the day after the incident. Since they put up big red cloth signs on 7 sticks on the side of the road, locals say that the electricity department authorities have marked it as a dangerous area.

Incidentally, on Saturday (November 23) morning, 460 students and teachers of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) arrived at Matir Maya Resort in Udaykhali area of Telihati Union of Sreepur Upazila for a picnic in 6 BRTC double-decker buses and 3 microbuses. During that time, three students died after one of their buses got electrocuted by an 11,000-volt line passing by the road in that area.

The deceased students are Mir Mozammel (23), son of Motahar Hossain of Masterpara area of Feni, Jobayer Alam (22), son of Jahangir Alam of Rajpara Dingabo area of Rajshahi, and Mubtasin Rahman (22), son of Imtiazur Rahman of Rangpur Sadar. All of them are third-year students of the Mechanical and Production Engineering department.