At least 15 people were dead and ten others injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup van on Sylhet-Dhaka highway at Nazir Bazar in Dakkhin Surma upazila on Wednesday.
The accident occurred around 5:30 am when the sand-carrying truck collided with a pickup van carrying construction workers in Kutubpur area, leaving 11 people dead and 12 others injured, said Md Samsuddoha, officer-in-charge of Dakkhin Surma Police Station.
The deceased were identified as Rashid Ali, 25, son of Late Sajib Ali of Bhatipara village in Derai upazila under Sunamganj district, Dulam Mia, 26, son of Late Harun Mia of Muradpur village in Shantiganj upazila, Shahin Mia, 40, son of Wahab Ali of Babangaon village of the same upazila, Haris Mia, 65, son of Late Shishu Mia of Alinagar village in Derai upazila, Amina Begum, wife of Abdur Rahim of Haldiura village in Chunarughat upazila under Habiganj district, Sayed Noor, 50, son of late Mofiz Mia of Bhatipara village in Derai upazila, Awlad Hossain, 60, son of late Awlad Ullah of Taleratan village in Shantiganj upazila, Eklim Mia, 55, son of Late Salim Uddin of Patharia village in Dirai upazila, Sijil Mia, 55, son of Barik Ullah of Gachia village, Saurabh Mia, 27, son of Siraj Mia of Bhatipara village, Islam Mia, 27, son of Islam Uddin of Bharhatta upazila under Netrokona district, Meher, 24, daughter of Shamsher Nur of Bhatipara village in Derai upazila, Dudu Mia, 40, son of Sona Mia of Madhupur village in Derai upazila and Badshah, 22, son of Shahjahan of the same village.
The injured were taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared four of them dead.
The pickup van with 20-22 construction workers were heading towards Tajpur.
South Surma Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shamsuddoha said the bodies have been kept at Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue.
The bodies will be handed over to the families after the legal process, the police officer said.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Mojibor Rahman said Tk 20,000 has been given to the families of each deceased and Tk 10,000 to the families of each injured person.
Awami League candidate for Sylhet City Corporation election Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury donated Tk 25,000 each to the families of the victims on behalf of the prime minister.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury rushed to the hospital. He landed at Sylhet Osmani Airport in the morning and went straight to Osmani Medical College Hospital. The state minister inquired about the treatment of the injured.
Khalid Mahmud said the government will provide all kinds of assistance to the victims of the accident.
Vehicular movement on Sylhet-Dhaka highway remained suspended for three hours following the accident.
A long tailback was created after the accident on the highway. However, vehicular movement resumed around 8 am following police intervention.
