3 college girls killed in Rajshahi bus crash

At least three college students were killed and 20 other people injured many of them critically, in a road accident in Paba Upazila in Rajshahi district on Sunday. The dead are Mahmuda Akter Tania, a 1st year student of Social Work Department of Rajshahi College, Sharmin Sultana, 2nd year student of Management Dept. and ‘Seema’, 2nd year student of History Department of the college. Police and college sources said a ‘Lucky paribahan’ bus was taking female students of Rajshahi College to their respective destinations in the afternoon. The Rajshahi-bound passenger bus from Sirajganj collided head on with the Puthia Baneshwar-bound student bus, leaving the ‘Lucky paribahan’ bus badly damaged and falling into a roadside ditch in front of Katakhali Jute Mills around 1am. Being informed, several firefighting units from Rajshahi and Rajshahi University fire stations rushed in and rescued the victims. RU Fire service’s team leader Mostafizur Rahman said at least 24 passengers were extricated from the students’ bus and sent to hospital but three of them were already dead, according to a news agency.