The traders were travelling to Rajshahi to buy agricultural products for their businesses; two other traders from Zajira were injured in the collision.
The five businessmen from Shariatpur’s Zajira upazila who died in a bus-truck collision in Natore on Tuesday (20 October). Photo: Collected
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The five businessmen from Shariatpur’s Zajira upazila who died in a bus-truck collision in Natore on Tuesday (20 October). Photo: Collected
Five traders from Zajira upazila in Shariatpur were among the 12 people killed in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck in Natore early today (20 October).
They were travelling to Taherpur in Rajshahi to purchase agricultural products for their businesses when the accident occurred around 4:30am in the Sarkarpara area on the Natore-Pabna highway in Baraigram upazila.
Natore Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shariful Haque confirmed to The Business Standard that 12 people had died in the accident. Nine died at the scene, one on the way to hospital, one at Baraigram Upazila Health Complex and another at a clinic in Baraigram.
Two to three injured passengers were in critical condition and had been admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, he added.
The five traders killed were Jewel Madbor of Ramkrishnapur Madborkandi, Salal Mollah of Dubisaybar Molyakandi, Sohag Shikder of Dubisaybar Kazirhat, Samad Fakir of Kazirhat and Shahin Bepari of Kathuria in Palerchar union.
Two other traders from Zajira, Faisal and Alamgir Madbor, were injured in the accident.
Zajira Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saleh Ahmed said he had learnt about the accident through social media but had not received official information from the relevant authorities in Natore or the victims’ families.
He said police would take the necessary legal steps to bring the bodies back to Zajira after receiving the relevant information.
Local residents said the five traders had been doing business in Kazirhat and surrounding areas of Zajira for years. Jewel Madbor ran wholesale and rod and cement businesses, while Samad Fakir traded in wholesale goods and Shahin Bepari sold turmeric. Salal Mollah and Sohag Shikder also traded in various products.
The five knew one another because they lived in the same area and were involved in business.
Aminul Islam, joint general secretary of the Kazirhat Traders’ Association, said seven traders had travelled to Rajshahi for business, of whom five were killed and two injured.
“One of my relatives is also among them,” he said.
Zajira Upazila Nirbahi Officer Al Imran said he learnt about the incident from traders at Zajira Bazar.
Describing the incident as heartbreaking, he said the authorities and he personally would stand beside the bereaved families.
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