Families of those killed in Sylhet bus accident to receive Tk 5 lakh: Expatriates' Welfare Minister

Special

District Correspondent • Sylhet

Published: Saturday, 08 August 2026

The government has announced financial assistance of Tk 5 lakh each to the families of those killed in the head-on collision between two passenger buses on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Osmaninagar, Sylhet. Each injured person will receive Tk 1 lakh, and those who incur disability will receive Tk 3 lakh on the basis of medical certificates.

On Saturday (August 8) afternoon, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury made the announcement while visiting the injured at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. He said that under the prime minister's directive, donation application forms are being delivered through BRTA, and arrangements have been made to quickly reach the assistance to the families of the deceased through the district administration and hospital authorities.

Referring to multiple accidents on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in recent times, the minister said several tragic accidents have occurred in Osmaninagar and Tajpur areas in the past few days. Reckless speed and competition among drivers on empty roads in the morning are among the main causes of accidents. Therefore, highway police and local administration have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance, and steps have been taken to effectively enforce speed limits through BRTA. He clearly said that reckless drivers will be brought to justice and punished.

Regarding the project to upgrade the Dhaka-Sylhet highway to six lanes, Ariful Haque Chowdhury said that although it will take some time due to land acquisition, earthwork and monsoon, visible progress of the project will be seen by September-October. Alongside constructing the new road, instructions have been given to repair and keep the existing road operational during the ongoing work to reduce the risk of accidents.

Meanwhile, Industry, Commerce, Jute and Textiles Minister Khondoker Abdul Muktadir, Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury and BNP central joint organizing secretary Miftah Siddique expressed grief over the nine people killed in the accident on Friday night.

Besides, Jamaat's central member and Sylhet metropolitan Jamaat's Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam, Sylhet metropolitan BNP general secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury and other BNP leaders went to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital to see those killed and injured in the accident.