At least five people, including a child, were killed after being struck by a train in Kalihati of Tangail on Friday night.
The accident occurred in the Ballatengor area when a group of bus passengers were sitting on a railway track after their vehicle broke down, police said.
The deceased were identified as Nasima, wife of Hamidul Islam from Purba Narsinghpur village in Gaibandha Sadar; her son Nirob; Dola, a relative of Nasima; Sultan, son of Raizel Mia from the same area; and Rima, daughter of Abdur Rashid.
How the accident happened
According to passengers and police, the bus, travelling from Gaibandha to Gazipur, ran out of fuel near Ballatengor.
The driver and helper reportedly left to arrange fuel, leaving the bus parked beside the railway track for over an hour. During that time, several passengers got off, with some sitting on or near the tracks.
A Sirajganj-bound train approaching from Tangail struck the passengers on the bus, who failed to notice it in time, resulting in the fatalities.
Victims and response
Most of the victims were garment workers returning to their workplaces after the Eid holidays, family members said.
Mizanur Rahman, sub-inspector at the Gharinda railway police outpost, said the bodies were recovered following the accident.
“After completing legal procedures, the bodies will be handed over to the families,” he said.
