8 killed after bus hits auto-rickshaws in Habiganj

Eight passengers have been killed after a BRTC bus hits two CNG-run auto-rickshaws on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj.

At least 15 people were injured in the incident at around 5:00pm on Monday.

The deceased are Samirun Begum, 28, wife of Abu Taher, a resident of Muraura village of Nabiganj upazila amd their daughters -- Maria Begum, 2, and Abu Taher's brother Anu Mia's wife Halima Begum, 25, Antar Mia, 22, son of Nurul Islam, a resident of Sataihal village, Liza Akhtar, 19, a resident of same village, Kitab Ali, 29, a resident of Latibpur village, Liton Mia, 19, and an unidentified person, 26. All of them were the passengers of auto-rickshaws.

Sherpur highway police officer-in-charge Ershadul Haque Bhuiyan said a Sylhet-bound BRTC bus from Dhaka hit two CNG-run auto-rickshaws from the back on the highway in Sataihal area of Nabiganj. An auto-rickshaw was badly damaged while the bus skidded off the road into a roadside ditch.

The auto-rickshaws were heading toward Aushkandi bazar from Paniumda.

Sherpur highway police said eight bodies have been handed over to their families.