Two killed, 15 injured in bus–covered van collision on Dhaka–Sylhet highway

Two people were killed in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a covered van on the Dhaka–Sylhet highway. At least 15 others were injured in the accident on Saturday (24 October).

The crash occurred on the main highway linking the capital with the country's north-eastern region. The force of the collision badly damaged the front sections of both vehicles, according to initial reports.

The injured were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment. The identities of the dead and injured, and the exact cause of the accident, were not immediately known.

The Dhaka–Sylhet highway is the principal road route to the capital for people in the four districts of Sylhet Division — Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sunamganj. Large numbers of passenger buses, trucks and covered vans use the road every day.

Excessive speed, risky overtaking and poor vehicle fitness are frequently cited as causes of accidents on this highway, with head-on collisions occurring particularly on bends and narrow stretches.

Traffic on that section of the highway was disrupted for a time after the accident before the situation returned to normal.

The accident has once again raised questions about safe travel on the highway. Details about the precise cause and those responsible are expected to emerge after an investigation.