Fourteen workers were killed and at least 16 others injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup van in Sylhet early Wednesday.
The accident took place on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Nazir Bazar area in Dakshin Surma upazila at 5:30am.
The deceased were identified as Anwara Begum, 45, Awlad Miah, 46, Shahin Miah, 50, Dulal Miah, 26, Awlad Talukder, 50, Haris Miah, 50, Sourov Miah, 26, Badsha Miah, 19, Rashid Miah, 50, Sayed Nur, 60, Sagar Ahmed, 18, Sadhu Miah, 40, Sijil Miah, 35 and Eklim Miah, 55.
They all were the inhabitants of different villages in Habiganj, Netrokona and Sunamganj.
Source said, 30 construction workers were going to Tajpur in Osmani Nagar upazila from Ambarkhana Borobazar in Sylhet by the pickup van. The vehicle collided head-on with the truck on its way. Being informed, several fire service units rushed to the spot and sent the injured people to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Moniruzzaman, Deputy Director of Sylhet Fire Service and Civil Defence, said they recovered 11 bodies and 10 critically injured and sent them to the hospital. Some other injured were also rushed to the hospitals by locals.
Shamsuddoha, Officer-in-charge of Dakshin Surma Police Station, said eleven people were killed on the spot in the accident. Later, three more injured died at the hospital.
Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Assistant Director of the hospital, said 16 injured people were taken here after the accident. Of them, three died and several are in critical condition.
However, hearing the news of the tragic accident, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, who was visiting Sylhet, went to the hospital to visit the injured people.