Five people, including three women, were killed in a collision between a covered van and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Bhairab, Kishoreganj. The tragic incident occurred at approximately 10:00 AM on Monday near the Jagannathpur Bridge area on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway. The identities of the deceased are yet to be determined.

According to local sources and the police, the accident took place when two covered vans were heading toward Bhairab from the Nilkuti area in Narsingdi. As the two vehicles passed the Jagannathpur Bridge, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw attempted to overtake. However, the auto-rickshaw was forced into a deadly situation upon noticing an oncoming vehicle from the opposite direction. Trapped between the two covered vans, the auto-rickshaw first collided with the front van and was subsequently crushed by the one trailing behind.

The collision resulted in the immediate deaths of all five passengers on the auto-rickshaw, including two men and three women. The devastating crash turned the vehicle into wreckage, leaving no chance of survival for those onboard.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhairab Highway Police Station, Md. Saju Mia, confirmed the incident and stated that the bodies were recovered from the site. He added that both covered vans involved in the accident have been seized, but the drivers of the vans fled the scene immediately after the collision.

"The accident claimed the lives of five people, including the auto-rickshaw driver. Both vehicles have been taken into police custody, but efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing drivers," said OC Saju Mia.

He further assured that appropriate legal action would be taken based on the complaints filed by the victims' families.

The tragic incident has cast a pall of grief over the local community as families and residents grapple with the sudden loss. The busy Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, known for frequent accidents, once again became the scene of a fatal crash, prompting renewed calls for stricter traffic regulations and safer road practices.

Local authorities and highway police are conducting further investigations to determine the precise cause of the accident and ensure that justice is delivered to the families of the victims. The remains of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examinations, and police are working to inform their families.

The incident highlights the ongoing safety concerns on Bangladesh's major highways, where reckless driving, unsafe overtaking, and inadequate traffic monitoring continue to result in tragic accidents.