This tragic morning has witnessed deaths of at least eight people including a minister's son in two separate accidents on Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge.
The massive accidents involved unprecedented chain collisions of at least 24 vehicles.
Another 30 people, who were injured in the accidents, are now admitted at the hospitals in the neighboring districts of Tangail and Sirajganj. The injured would be nearly 50, according to the officials at the spot.
Among the injured, five were also members of police and fire service.
A long tailback has ensued following the accidents, collapsing the Dhaka-North Bengal communications and so the sufferings of the passengers.
The accident occurred in between 7am to 9am Saturday on the bridge on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, which killed Sharif Rana, 35, son of Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Dilu, among others deceased, Sirajganj police super Md Miraj Uddin Ahmed confirmed.
Sharif had been going to Dhaka by a microbus, said the police official.
Initially, there are differing claims of the death toll, which, according to the bridge authorities, is nine, while, the police and civil surgeon confirmed as eight.
Bangladesh Bridge Authority's (BBA) Assistant Engineer Wasim Ali said, the first accident occurred around 7am, in between the 30th and 40th pillar at the east end of the bridge.
The havoc ensued as a Dhaka-bound passengers’ bus from Pabna hit a cow-laden truck on the bridge.
Two more buses and a micro-bus rammed immediately behind the bus and truck that have fallen in accident.
At least four people were killed and 20 others were injured.
No sooner had the aftermath of the accident been managed, around 9am, 16 vehicles hit one another in a row on the west side of the bridge between pillar No. 30 and 32, including a passenger bus of Hanif paribahan, National paribahan, micro-bus, private cars and ambulance.
In the second accident, five including the minister’s son Sharif Rana were killed, and at least 25 people were injured.
The deceased and injured were taken to Sirajganj and Tangail Sadar Hospitals.
Bridge Authority's Executive Engineer Abul Kalam Azad said the two separate accidents were caused due to dense fog.
At least 24 vehicles collided with each other, he said.
OC Akhirul Islam of Bangabandhu Bridge east police station, among the deceased, four bodies were kept in the east police and two at Tangail Sadar hospital.
Nurul Islam, deputy managing Tangail Sadar Hospital, said 13 people were admitted here.
OC Rafiqul Islam of Bangabandhu Bridge west police said the Bridge Authority told them of death toll to be nine.
He said five members of police and fire service were injured while taking part in the rescue operation. They are now at Sirajganj Sadar Hospital.
Sirajganj Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Ashraf Uddin said 30 injured people are being treated in Sirajganj.
Two unidentified people died at the hospital, he confirmed.
Meanwhile, since the accidents in the morning, there ensued a long tailback in the both end of the bridge, leading to immense sufferings to the passengers.
However, the bridge authorities reported improvement of the situation after 11am.
