Eight construction workers, including a woman, were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup on the Sylhet–Dhaka highway in South Surma early Sunday.
The accident occurred around 6am near Telibazar Bridge, police said.
According to Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Manjurul Alam, the victims were travelling to Sunamganj for construction work in a pickup when it collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction.
Four people died on the spot, while four others succumbed to their injuries after being taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital.
The identities of four of the deceased have been confirmed. They are Suruj Ali, 60, from Islampur in Dirai upazila of Sunamganj; Md Faridul, 35, from Bhatipara Nur Nagar in the same upazila; Munni, 35, from Sheshanti village; and Badrul, 30, from Mogolgaon in Sylhet Sadar upazila. The identities of the remaining victims could not be confirmed immediately.
Locals said a jackfruit-laden truck collided head-on with the worker-carrying pickup in the Telibazar area, leaving several others seriously injured.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury said police and fire service personnel rushed to the scene and carried out rescue operations.
The injured have been admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital, while efforts are ongoing to identify all the victims.