Pickup Driver Killed, at Least Eight Injured in Head-on Collision Between Bus and Pickup in Chatak

PNN News Desk, Sunamganj

A head-on collision between a passenger bus and a pickup van on the Sunamganj–Sylhet regional highway resulted in the death of Rakib Hossain (30), a pickup driver. At least eight others were injured, some of them seriously.

The accident occurred on Saturday (17 January) around 7 am on the Burairgaon–Alampur road in Saidergaon Union, Chatak Upazila.

The deceased Rakib Hossain was a resident of Begaritola Bazar, Monirampur Upazila, Jessore District, and the son of Leyakat Hossain. Eyewitnesses reported that he died instantly due to the severity of the collision. The pickup van was completely mangled, and an Ena Transport passenger bus lost control and overturned into a nearby small canal.

Local sources and police said the Ena Transport AC bus, traveling from Dhaka to Sunamganj, collided head-on with the pickup van coming from the opposite direction. At least 9–10 people, including passengers from both vehicles, were injured. Two seriously injured were sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. The bus driver was also among the injured.

Local residents rushed to the scene to rescue passengers trapped inside the bus. A Fire Service unit later joined the rescue operation.

Police reported that the bus and pickup van involved in the accident have been seized. The body of the deceased Rakib Hossain has been kept at Joykals Highway Police Station and preparations are underway to send it to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Joykals Highway Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Suman Kumar Chowdhury confirmed the incident and stated that legal action is in process.