At least 20 people, including three Dhaka Tribune employees, have been injured after a bus carrying them fell into a roadside ditch on the Chittagong- Cox’s Bazar Highway at Chakaria upazila.
The incident took place near Harbang area of the upazila around 6am on Monday, said the survivors and police.
On information, locals and Chakaria highway police rescued the injured and sent them to the Upazila Health Complex, Cox Bazar Sadar Hospital, and Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The injured Dhaka Tribune employees, who work in the online department, are Mahmudul Haque Nishat, 24, Imran Hossain, 28, and Atik Mostafa, 22.
They were accompanied by their friends Nafiz, 24, Arnab, 25, Tamim, 22, Kayes, 22, Mishuk, 24, Zakia, 21, Arzu, 26, and Mou, 26 They also sustained minor injuries.
Nishat said they were travelling from Dhaka to Saint Martin Island via Cox’s Bazar on a Relax Paribahan bus. “We started from Dhaka on Sunday night. When the bus reached Chakaria's Harbang area at dawn, the driver lost control while trying to give way to a cargo truck and fell into the roadside ditch."
He added that all of them were taken to the Chahkaria Upazila Health Complex at first and later shifted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital. "Doctors have released all of us after providing us necessary treatment."
"We plan to safely return to Dhaka as soon as possible," he added.
Chiringa highway police outpost In-charge Md Sirajul Islam said the crash had left the overturned bus in a crumbled state.
"The bus has been recovered and taken into police custody. Legal action will be taken in this regard," he said.
