At least five people were killed and nine others injured when a truck hit a microbus on Panchdona-Ghorashal road at Bhatpara Sakurar intersection in Madhabdi upazila of Narsingdi district on Saturday night.

The deceased were identified as Mukti Akhter, 30, Sadiqul, 8, son of Mukti, Ruby Akhter, 40, Rahima, 3, daughter of Ruby and Rokeya Akhter, 52.

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Enamul Haque Sagar, superintendent of Narsingdi Police, said the accident occurred around 12 am when the truck rammed the Savar-bound microbus carrying 14 people, leaving two dead on the spot and 12 others injured.

Three of the injured died while being moved to hospitals.

The rest of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

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They met the accident while returning to Jirabo in Savar from Sylhet shrine, said police.

Police seized the truck but could not arrest its driver as he fled the scene after the accident.

Road accident in Bangladesh

Road accidents are common in Bangladesh and have been a major cause of deaths.

Read: 4 killed in Cumilla road crash

During the last Eid-ul-Fitr holiday rush, road accidents claimed 323 lives in just 15 days, said Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Shamiti, a human rights body.

Besides, 513 people, including 63 children, were killed and 598 injured in 409 road accidents across the country in March, said another rights body, Road Safety Foundation, on April 5.

It said 147 lives were lost in 138 motorcycle accidents, which is 28.65% of the total deaths.

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In a report released in February 2020, the World Bank pointed out that Bangladesh needs to invest an estimated $7.8 billion over the next decade to halve its road crash fatalities.

The report attributed the high death rate on Bangladesh’s roads to lack of investments in systemic, targeted, and sustained road safety programmes.