5 killed as bus hits parked pick-up van in Faridpur

At least five people were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus crashed into a broken-down pick-up van parked on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur on Saturday night.

The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately, said Bhanga Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Helal Uddin.

The accident occurred around 8:00pm in the Swadi area when a Khulna-bound Narail Express bus travelling from Dhaka rammed the stationary pick-up van, killing five people on the spot, the OC said.

Enraged by the incident, local residents seized the bus and set it on fire before law enforcers arrived.

Members of the Highway Police and Fire Service, assisted by local residents, rushed to the scene, rescued the injured and transported them to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

“We have so far confirmed the deaths of five people. The exact cause of the accident is being investigated,” the OC said.

The crash temporarily disrupted traffic on the busy Dhaka-Khulna highway. Police later cleared the road and restored normal vehicular movement.