Bus Driver Distracted by Phone Crushes CNG; 5 Lives Lost

On Monday, five people have died in a head-on collision between a bus and a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw in the Jalalpur area along Sunamganj-Sylhet highway.

The deceased have been identified as Yusuf Ali (55), Shahabuddin (45), Keya Moni (16), and Nilufa (30). The identity of the fifth victim, believed to be the driver of the CNG, has not yet been confirmed by locals. The accident occurred around 2:30 PM today.

According to witnesses, the passenger-carrying CNG-powered auto-rickshaw was traveling from Chhatak, Sunamganj, toward Sylhet. When it reached the Jalalpur area of Chhatak, a bus belonging to 'Rifat Paribahan' coming from the opposite direction struck it. Two people died instantly at the scene. Three others were rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where duty doctors later declared them dead.

Nizam Uddin, a local resident, said, "We rushed to the spot after hearing about the accident. At that time, a female passenger from the bus told us that the bus driver was busy talking on his mobile phone. He suddenly struck the CNG."

SI Anwarul Islam, in charge of the Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital police outpost, confirmed that three individuals injured in the Sunamganj accident died at the hospital. The bodies are currently kept at the Osmani Hospital morgue.