7 of a family killed as microbus plunges into roadside canal in Noakhali

Seven members of the same family were killed when a speeding microbus plunged into a roadside canal in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali early on Wednesday.

The seven deceased were identified as Foyzun Nesa, 80, Khurshida Begum, 55, Kobita Begum, 30, Laboni Begum, 30, Reshmi Aktar, 10, Mim Aktar, 2, and Lamia Aktar, 9. They were residents of the Poshchim Choupali area of Hajirpara Union under Chandraganj Thana in Laxmipur. 

Noakhali Fire Service and Civil Defence Choumuhoni Station Officer Mojammel Haque confirmed the matter. 

He said the family was returning from the airport in Dhaka with a family member who had returned from Oman. On their way home, the vehicle fell into the canal. 

Along with the driver, there were 11 people in the microbus. Four of them, including the driver, were able to escape the vehicle while the other seven died. 

It is primarily assumed that the driver fell asleep, which caused the accident, Mojammel Haque said. The bodies were handed over to the Chandraganj Highway Police Station. 

Officer in Charge of the police station, Mobarak Hossain Bhuiyan, said the microbus was recovered. Legal actions will be taken if the family of the deceased wants.