15 Killed After Truck Carrying Eid Travellers Overturns in Bangladesh

At least 15 people were killed and several others injured after a truck loaded with iron rods and carrying passengers overturned on a major highway in central Bangladesh early Monday amid heavy Eid holiday travel, officials said.

The accident occurred around 4.30 am in the Saratail area of Kalihati upazila in Tangail district, near the eastern end of the Jamuna Bridge on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, about 83-97 kilometres northwest of Dhaka.

Police said the road-laden truck was travelling toward northern Bangladesh from Dhaka and Chattogram when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plunge into a roadside ditch and overturn. Several passengers travelling under a tarpaulin cover were crushed beneath the heavy iron rods and the vehicle’s wheels.

Authorities said most of the victims were day labourers returning to their hometowns to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha with their families. Due to soaring demand for transport during the holiday rush, many reportedly boarded the cargo truck after failing to obtain tickets on buses or trains.

Tangail Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar said passengers had boarded the truck from different locations along the route. Police were continuing efforts to identify all the victims, while some local reports said many were believed to be from the Chapainawabganj region in northwestern Bangladesh.

Rescue teams from the fire service, police and local residents rushed to the scene after hearing the crash. Survivors trapped under the wreckage were pulled out and taken to Tangail General Hospital and nearby medical facilities for treatment. Several injured passengers were said to be in critical condition.

Some Bangladeshi media reports suggested the driver may have fallen asleep before the crash, though authorities have not officially confirmed the cause and an investigation is underway.

The tragedy came as Bangladesh began a 10-day Eid holiday , leading to severe congestion on highways, trains and ferries nationwide. Road accidents remain common in the country due to reckless driving, overloaded vehicles, poor road conditions and weak enforcement of traffic rules. According to World Health Organisation estimates, around 32,000 people die in road crashes in Bangladesh every year.