Three people including a university student have been killed when a bus ran hit a battery-run auto-rickshaw in Pollapukur area on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in Putia upazila of Rajshahi.
The deceased were Shanto Islam, a third-year student of EEE Department at Barendra University in Rajshahi and son of Abul Hossain of Baripara in Putia upazila.
Identities of two other deceased—a man and a woman, both around 40 years old—could not be known.
Six injured victims were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Paba highway police Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haque Kazi said the auto-rickshaw was heading towards Putia when it was crushed by a bus coming from the opposite direction around 5 pm on Sunday,
Shanto died at the spot while a man and two others died on the way to the hospital.
Following the accident, students and locals blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway, demanding action against the driver which led to severe traffic jams.
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Protesters accused the bus driver of being released and detained the OC and SI of Belpukur Police Station, forcing the SI to stand holding his ears.
They remained confined for about three and a half hours until the army intervened around 9:30 pm to secure their release. Traffic later returned to normal.