At least three people, including a child, a woman, and the driver, were killed, and around 29 others injured in a head-on collision between a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) vehicle and a passenger bus in Patuakhali Sadar upazila on Saturday morning.

The accident occurred around 8am in the Fatullah area of Auliapur Union on the Patuakhali-Kuakata highway, near a place called Pakshia.

According to local sources, a RAB-8 vehicle was heading toward Kuakata from Barishal when it collided with a Barishal-bound “Dhanshiri Classic Paribahan” bus coming from the opposite direction. A two-year-old child died on the spot, while at least 22 RAB members were injured.

Eyewitnesses said there were around 30 RAB personnel in the vehicle. Locals and fire service officials immediately joined the rescue efforts and rushed the injured to nearby hospitals.

Patuakhali Fire Service Assistant Director Belal Uddin said, “We rescued 13 RAB members from the vehicle and admitted them to Patuakhali Sadar Hospital. One two-year-old child was confirmed dead at the scene. Several of the injured are in critical condition.”

Dr Tamanna Rahman, a physician on duty at Patuakhali Medical College Hospital’s emergency department, said, “We received 20 to 22 injured people after the crash. Among them, a two-year-old child was declared dead. Several critically injured patients have been referred to Barishal and other hospitals for advanced treatment.”

MN/