The girl Nasima Akhtar and her bridegroom Emran Hossain, 25, came to Patiya from nearby Satkania upazila in the afternoon to register their marriage at a court but they found the court closed.

The accident took place at around 10.00pm when they were returning home in a taxi along with her father Amir Hossain, 50, and maternal uncle Noor Ali, 60, who accompanied them to the court.

Noor Ali and taxi driver Mohammad Hamid, 45, were also killed as the Chittagong-bound bus rammed into the taxi at Junudighi of Chakrashala union.

Nasima and two others, who sustained serious injuries, are now undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), police said.

Sources said Nasima and Emran had decided to marry in court as Emran's family did not approve of their marriage.

Nasima lives in Char Khagaria of Satkania and Emran hailed from Dhopachhari of Chandanaish, police said.