Two passengers were killed after allegedly being thrown off a moving bus following a fare dispute on the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway in Taraganj upazila on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Mukul Islam, 33, son of Kalu Mia, and Shakib Bosunia, 26, son of Lokman Bosunia. Both were residents of Basuniapara village in Charaikhola union of Nilphamari Sadar upazila.
According to police, the victims' families and local sources, six construction workers from the same locality were returning from Comilla on a Saimon Exclusive Paribahan bus when an argument broke out between them and the bus staff over fares.
When the bus reached Taraganj, the staff allegedly held one of the workers, Atique, on board against his will and forced the others to get off.
Mukul and Shakib later got back on the bus to rescue Atique, triggering another argument and a scuffle with the staff.
At one point, the bus staff allegedly kicked the two men off the moving vehicle near Jighatala. One died on the spot, while the other was critically injured.
Hearing Atique's screams, local residents arranged a microbus to chase the bus and managed to stop it in the Chikli area.
A team from Taraganj Fire Service rushed to the scene around 8am after receiving information and found the two men lying beside the road. One was already dead, while the other was taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Firefighter Benazir Ahmed of Taraganj Fire Service said they found no signs of a road accident at the scene. Local residents told them that the two men had been thrown off the bus.
Taraganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Monabbar Hossen said police had taken the bus driver and supervisor into custody.
Angered by the incident, local residents blocked the highway and staged protests.
Taraganj police station Officer-in-Charge Ijar Uddin said the bus, its driver and helper had been taken into police custody for questioning. Legal action was being taken in connection with the incident, he added.
