Two motorcyclists were killed after a chain-reaction crash involving four vehicles on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Dhamrai, Dhaka, on Saturday morning.
According to police, a passenger bus had broken down and was parked on the main carriageway in the Islampur area. A private car approaching from behind braked suddenly to avoid the bus, prompting a covered van behind it to do the same. Two motorcycles travelling behind the covered van also stopped.
A Swadhinata Paribahan bus approaching from behind at high speed then rammed into the motorcycles, throwing the riders onto the road. They were rescued and taken to Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex, where both died while undergoing treatment. All four vehicles involved in the crash were damaged.
The deceased were identified through their identity cards as Abas Saha, a postgraduate student at Manikganj Debendra College and son of Jagannath Saha of Dendabor in Ashulia, Savar, and Sujoy Saha, an HSC examinee and son of Ashutosh Saha of Shivaloy upazila in Manikganj. The two were cousins.
Savar Highway Police Station Sub-Inspector Shahadat Hossain confirmed the incident.
He said police are trying to contact the victims' relatives, and further legal action will be taken after completing the identification process.
Dhamrai Police Station Sub-Inspector Tarek said police received a report through the national emergency service 999 and rushed to the scene.
"According to witnesses, a Dhaka-bound passenger bus had broken down and was standing on the highway. The vehicles behind it braked suddenly one after another. A Swadhinata Paribahan bus travelling at high speed then crashed into the motorcycles, causing the riders to fall onto the road," he said.
He added that all the vehicles were travelling from Dhaka toward Manikganj.
"The broken-down bus appears to have triggered the sequence of events. The matter has been handed over to the Highway Police, as the accident falls under their jurisdiction," he added.
