Two people, including an assistant professor, were killed and at least 30 others injured when a bus carrying teachers, students and staff members of a madrasa in Cumilla plunged into a roadside ditch while travelling to Cox’s Bazar for an annual educational tour.
The accident occurred at around 4:00 am on Saturday, November 7, near the newly constructed railway crossing at Keranihat.
The deceased were identified as Sohana Afroze, 45, an assistant professor at Bakshimool Sunnia Islamia Senior Madrasa in Burichang, Cumilla, and Mohammad Israfil Alam, 55, manager of the daily Ruposhi Bangla newspaper and husband of Professor Nadira Afroze Meghla.
The incident and the casualties were confirmed by the madrasa’s principal, Maulana Mohammad Mofizul Islam, and ICT department teacher Mohammad Zakir Hossain.
According to madrasa sources, teachers and students set out for their annual educational tour to Cox’s Bazar in two buses at around 10:00 pm on Friday, November 6. The buses departed from Burichang Sadar.
At around 4:00 am on Saturday, one of the buses lost control near the newly constructed railway crossing at Keranihat and plunged into a ditch beside the highway. Two passengers died at the scene, while at least 30 others sustained injuries.
Hearing the loud crash, local residents and passers-by rushed to the spot and joined the rescue operation. They helped pull passengers trapped inside the bus to safety and arranged to send the injured to different hospitals.
Several injured passengers were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Some of them were reported to be in critical condition.
Among the injured were Professor Nadira Afroze Meghla, teacher Maulana Tajul Islam Bhuiyan and his wife and child, ICT teacher Mohammad Zakir Hossain, his wife and daughter Samia Akter Niha, teacher Atikur Rahman, Professor Russell, office assistant Alauddin, his wife Sweety Akter and daughter, office attendant Shahjalal, attendant Selina Akter, and teacher Runa Laila and her husband. The injured also included other teachers, students and staff members, bringing the total to at least 30.
The tragedy has cast a pall of grief over Bakshimool in Burichang, where teachers, students and family members of the madrasa community are mourning the loss.
Officer-in-Charge of Dohazari Highway Police Station, Nurul Absar, confirmed the accident and casualties. He said a police patrol team rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the information and began rescue operations. With assistance from local residents, the injured and deceased were recovered and taken to the appropriate destinations.
The OC further said the wrecked bus had been removed from the highway and taken into police custody. Traffic on the road has since returned to normal. Police are also monitoring the treatment of the injured at different hospitals and trying to contact the families of the deceased.
The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established. An investigation is underway to determine why the bus lost control and plunged into the ditch.
