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Three cattle traders were killed and four others seriously injured when a bus collided head-on with a cattle-laden bhuttbhuti, a locally made three-wheeler, in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore on Saturday.
The accident occurred around 10:30am in the Nayabazar area on the Bonpara-Hatikumrul highway.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Rahman, 70, Akkas Ali, 55, and his brother Jahangir Alam, 46, all cattle traders from Dhamanipara village in Lakshmipur of neighbouring Baraigram upazila.
According to police and local sources, the bhuttbhuti, carrying cattle traders, was travelling along the highway when it collided head-on with a bus travelling from Dhaka towards Rajshahi.
One of the cattle traders was killed on the spot. Several others were critically injured and taken to Baraigram Upazila Health Complex, where two more succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment.
The four critically injured victims were later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Local eyewitnesses said cattle traders frequently use such unauthorised bhuttbhutis on the highway despite the vehicles being unsuitable for highway travel. They alleged that inadequate enforcement by highway police has contributed to recurring accidents involving such vehicles.
Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Bonpara Highway Police Station, confirmed the accident and said the two vehicles involved had been recovered.
“Legal action is being taken in connection with the accident. Necessary measures, including filing cases against unauthorised vehicles operating on the highway, will be taken,” he said.
