Munshiganj (South) Correspondent 

At least 15 people were injured in a collision involving five vehicles near the Padma Bridge’s Mawa end, in front of the Padma North Police Station and close to the toll plaza in Louhajang, Munshiganj.

 The accident occurred around 11:00 AM on Friday, when a bus experienced brake failure and crashed into multiple vehicles.

According to Dewan Azad Hossain, Station Officer of Srinagar Fire Service Station, the accident happened when a bus operated by Imad Paribahan lost its brakes near the Padma Bridge toll plaza. Losing control, the bus collided with an Ilish Paribahan bus, a Gosairhat Express bus, a private car, and a jeep. Fifteen passengers from the bus and the private car were injured in the crash.

Eyewitnesses reported that the Dhaka-bound Imad Paribahan bus suddenly lost control due to brake failure. It first hit a private car, then successively crashed into a jeep, a Gosairhat Express bus, and a stationary Ilish Paribahan bus. The Ilish Paribahan bus was pushed onto a nearby autorickshaw, severely crushing it.

The autorickshaw driver was seriously injured. Locals and police immediately rushed to the scene and transported the injured to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and other nearby facilities.

A local autorickshaw driver remarked, “This area is usually crowded with people. Fortunately, there weren’t many around today. Otherwise, the casualties could have been far worse.”

The incident has sparked anger among locals, who claim that accidents frequently occur near the Padma Bridge toll plaza due to speeding and mechanical failures. Despite repeated complaints, no visible measures have been taken to prevent such incidents.

OC of Padma Bridge North Police Station, Md. Zakir Hossain said, “We have visited the scene and are investigating the actual cause of the accident.”

Hasara Highway Police OC Abdul Kader Jilani confirmed that the crashed vehicles were promptly removed from the expressway, and traffic has since returned to normal.