Of them, three people were killed and 50 others injured in a collision between a Dhaka-bound bus and a minibus in Puthia, Rajshahi.

The dead were identified as Dr Afzal Hossain, 45, of Taherpur, Abdur Rahim, 30, and Khotemon Biwi, 60, of Puthia upazila, police and hospital sources said.

The condition of six injured passengers, out of 40 admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, was stated to be critical.

The coach of Kafi Paribahan and the minibus coming from Taherpur collided head-on at Kapasia in the morning, leaving Dr Afzal dead on the spot. Two others died in the hospital, witnesses said.

Protesting the accident, an angry mob put up a barricade on the highway for one hour. Later, police brought the situation under control.

Drivers and helpers of both the buses fled away.

Our Comilla Correspondent adds: Three people, including a woman, were killed on the spot and 15 others seriously injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a tempo on the highway at Chandina yesterday.

The accident took place when a Companyganj-bound passenger bus of Jhatika Paribahan from Dhaka collided with a tempo coming from the opposite direction near Purbasha petrol pump.

Meanwhile, two people were killed and three others injured when a train dashed a tractor at Shihirpur rail crossing of Sonatola Upazila in Bogra district.