13 killed in Bagerhat road mishap

At least 13 people were killed in a head-on collision between a bus and a microbus in Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat on Thursday afternoon.

The accident occurred near the Belai Bridge on the Khulna-Mongla highway at around 4pm.

Several others also sustained injuries in the incident. They are currently receiving medical treatment.

According to authorities, four of the deceased were taken to Rampal Upazila Health Complex, while nine bodies were transported to Khulna Medical College Hospital.

The injured passengers have been admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital for urgent care.

The identities of the victims could not be known immediately.

Officer-in-Charge of Katakhali Highway Police Station Jafar Ahmed said that all those who died were passengers of the microbus.

Eyewitnesses reported that the accident occurred when a bus of Bangladesh Navy departing from Mongla collided head-on with a microbus traveling in the opposite direction towards Mongla. The impact crushed the front portions of both vehicles, causing several passengers to die instantly. Many of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

Being informed, police rushed to the scene.

The local administration is monitoring the situation closely.

The highway authorities are investigating the cause of the collision, though preliminary reports suggest a possible loss of control or negligence. Traffic on the Khulna-Mongla route was disrupted for several hours due to the crash.

This devastating accident highlights the persistent road safety concerns on highways in the region, with authorities urging drivers to follow traffic rules strictly to prevent such incidents in the future.