Narsingdi Correspondent

A passenger bus and an oil lorry collided on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Raipura in Narsingdi injuring at least 12 passengers including the bus driver's assistant on Tuesday.

The incident took place at the Nilkuthi bus stand area of the upazila around nine o'clock on Tuesday morning.

After the accident, traffic on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway was disrupted for about two and a half hours. Then there is a heavy traffic jam. On receiving the information, the police of Bhairav Highway police station worked to control the situation. Later, around 11:30 am, the bus and lorry involved in the accident were recovered and taken to Bhairav Highway Police Station.

Police and local people said that a passenger bus named Yata Paribahan leaving from Kishoreganj was heading towards the capital Dhaka. And an oil lorry of Yamuna Company leaving from Dhaka was going towards Bhairab. A CNG-powered autorickshaw suddenly came in front of the bus while crossing the Neelkuthi bus stand area on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. While crossing it, there was a head-on collision between the bus and the lorry.

After the collision, the bus hit a roadside eatery and a power pole. It damaged electric poles of 11 KV transmission lines and some parts of the hotel. On the other hand, the oil lorry overturned in the middle of the highway. The front end of both the cars was crumpled. At least 12 passengers in the bus were injured. The assistant driver of the bus suffered a broken leg. However, after the accident, the driver of both the cars fled away.

After the accident, the local people rescued the injured and sent them to different hospitals in Bhairav and Narsingdi. However, the highway police confirmed that 12 people were injured but could not reveal their names.

Abdul Awal, a passenger of the bus, said that the young driver was driving the bus at a reckless speed. Some passengers also refused. The accident took place while trying to save a CNG-powered autorickshaw that had overturned on the highway while crossing Neelkuthi area.

Passengers also said that illegal vehicles including CNG-powered auto-rickshaws ply on the highway throughout the day. Due to this, accidents often happen here. People die in small and big accidents every few days. Police should be more responsible on this highway.

Palli Vidyut Samiti Raipura zone in-charge Rezaul Karim said that the matter has been discussed with the highway police, they will file a case seeking compensation for the damaged electric poles.

Bhairab Highway Police Station Sub-Inspector Noor Hossain said, "On receiving the news, two buses and lorries from the accident site were seized and taken to the police station. As far as we know, the accident happened because the bus driver was driving at reckless speed. The drivers of both the vehicles are absconding since the accident.