Jhalakathi district administration on Saturday formed a five-member investigation committee over the tragic bus accident in Chhatrakanda area of the Sadar upazila that resulted in at least 17 deaths and dozens of injuries.
Led by Additional District Magistrate Mohammed Mamun Shiblee, the committee has been directed to submit a report within three working days.
The accident occurred when the Barisal-bound bus from Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur fell into the pond near the local union parishad office at around 9:55am on Saturday.
The driver was attempting to make way for an auto rickshaw on the Jhalakathi-Pirojpur regional road, Jhalakathi Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Nasir Uddin said.
The deceased were identified as Tariq Rahman, 45, Shaheen Molla, 25, Sumaiya, 6, Khadija Begum, 43, Rahima Begum, 60, Abdus Salam Mollah, 60, Khushbo Akhter, 17, Abdullah, 8, Abul Kalam Hawladar, Ripmoney, 2, Irine Akhter, 22, Nayan, 16, Rabeya Begum, 80, Salma Akhter Mita, 42, Faruk Hossain Khan, 55, Sabiha Begum, 22 and Parvin Beum, 50.
Among the injured, 21 are receiving treatment at Jhalakathi District Hospital, while two people, whose names are not known, have been sent to Barisal Medical College Hospital.
District Commissioner Farah Gul Nijhum, while visiting the injured at Jhalakathi District Hospital on Saturday afternoon, announced that the district administration would bear the costs of the victims' advanced treatment.
Jhalakathi Superintendent of Police Muhammed Afruzul Huqe Tutul said that the police will file a case over the incident.
