Two people, including a police officer, were killed and at least 15 others injured — including a police officer — when three buses crashed into a stationary truck in Gopalganj early Sunday.
The accident took place around 2:30am in front of the Mary Gopinathpur police outpost on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Gopalganj Sadar upazila.
Traffic on the highway remained suspended for nearly three hours following the incident.
The deceased were identified as Rafiquzzaman, 58, an assistant traffic sub-inspector of the Bhatiapara highway police, and Selim Hossain Bepari, 43, a helper of Arman Paribahan, hailing from Khulna’s Sonadanga area.
According to police, an Arman Paribahan bus first rear-ended the parked truck, killing its helper Selim on the spot. As police arrived to begin rescue operations, a Satkhira Express bus crashed into a private car near the scene around 3am, pushing the car into roadside trees.
Shortly after, an SP Green Line bus rammed into the already-crashed Arman Paribahan bus. Moments later, a Khulna-bound New Baleshwar Paribahan bus from Chattogram collided with the two damaged buses and the truck, resulting in a massive pile-up.
Rafiquzzaman and police constable Kayrul Islam, 32, along with 15 others, were injured during the collision and rescue efforts. Rafiquzzaman was initially taken to Kashiani Upazila Health Complex but died en route to Dhaka as his condition worsened.
Six of the injured were admitted to Gopalganj’s 250-bed General Hospital. Hospital emergency doctor Uttam Roy said the condition of two, including Arman Paribahan’s driver Ibrahim, is critical.
Fire service personnel led by Senior Station Officer Malek Ali Sardar reached the spot and began rescue operations around 3:30am. The highway was cleared and reopened to traffic around 5:30am.
Authorities said all three buses Arman Paribahan, SP Green Line, and New Baleshwar were badly damaged in the crashes.
