A catastrophic head-on collision between a passenger bus and a truck on the Natore-Pabna highway has claimed 12 lives and left at least 32 others injured. The tragic incident occurred early Tuesday morning near the Bonpara police outpost in Natore's Baraigram upazila, plunging multiple families into profound grief during the festive holiday season.
The victims included a banking professional and his eight-year-old daughter, who were traveling with their family from Patuakhali to Rajshahi to spend the Puja holidays with relatives. According to local administration and family sources, Shahidul Islam, a credit manager at BRAC Bank's Magura branch, and his daughter Tasfia Khatun, a third-grade student, died on the spot. Shahidul's wife, Rubina Akhter, a senior officer at Pubali Bank, and their 10-year-old son Labib sustained critical injuries and are currently undergoing medical treatment at a hospital.
Family members revealed that Rubina and her children had initially started their journey from Patuakhali, and Shahidul joined them along the route. They were headed to Rajshahi to visit Rubina's elder sister and brother-in-law, an Eastern Bank official. The couple had recently returned from performing Umrah and were eagerly looking forward to spending quality time together during the vacation. However, the fateful collision shattered all their plans in a matter of seconds.
Rescue operations were swiftly launched by highway police, fire service personnel, and local volunteers following the crash. The injured passengers, numbering around 32, were rushed to nearby medical facilities, where several remain in critical condition. Authorities fear the death toll might rise as medical teams battle to save the severely wounded survivors.
This devastating accident has once again ignited concerns regarding road safety on national highways across Bangladesh. Reckless driving, excessive speeds during early morning hours, and the disregard for traffic regulations by heavy vehicle operators continue to pose grave threats to commuters. Transport experts and civil society members have repeatedly called for stringent enforcement of traffic laws, mandatory rest periods for long-distance drivers, and regular vehicle fitness checks to prevent such avoidable tragedies on the roads.
