Wedding journey ends in tragedy

A joyful wedding journey turned into a devastating tragedy on Thursday afternoon when a microbus carrying a newly married couple and their relatives collided head-on with a Bangladesh Navy bus, leaving fourteen people dead.

The accident occurred at around 4pm near Belai Bridge on the Khulna-Mongla highway in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat.

Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge Md Zafar Ahmed of Katakhali Highway police station in Bagerhat said the force of the crash badly damaged the front sections of both vehicles.

“The impact severely damaged the front portions of both vehicles, killing several passengers on the spot and injuring at least 14 passengers of the navy staff bus, who were taken to different hospitals for treatment,” he said.

The deceased were identified as the groom, Sabbir, 30; the bride, Marzia Akhter Mitu, 25; Mitu’s grandmother Anwara, 70; Rashida Begum, 75; Mitu’s sister Lamia, 12; the groom’s father Abdur Razzak, 70 – president of the BNP’s ward no. 8 unit in Mongla municipality; the groom’s mother Anjuman Begum, 60; the groom’s sister-in-law Putul, 35; Alif, 12; the groom’s sister Oishi, 30; Oishi’s husband Samiul Alam, 42; Abdullah Sunny, 12; microbus driver Naeem Sheikh, 40; and one-year-old Iram.

All the victims were residents of Koyra upazila in Khulna district.

Describing the incident, the OC said the Navy bus was travelling from Mongla while the microbus was heading towards Mongla from Khulna. The two vehicles collided head-on near Belai Bridge.

The bride’s uncle, Abu Taher, said the wedding ceremony had taken place earlier in the day in Naksha village of Koyra upazila.

“After the ceremony, the wedding party was travelling by microbus to the groom’s house in Shelabunia of Mongla upazila,” he said.

Dr Mehenaj Mosharraf, a physician on duty at the emergency department of Khulna Medical College Hospital, said that by around 6:00 pm eight bodies had been brought to the hospital, including three children, three women and two men. Another critically injured victim who had been admitted later died during treatment.

Khulna Highway Police Superintendent Md Zakaria said 10 bodies are currently at Khulna Medical College Hospital, while the remaining four are at Rampal Upazila Health Complex. One injured person is also receiving treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital and remains in critical condition.