Three students of Islamic University of Technology, run and funded by Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, were killed and three others were injured as a bus carrying them became electrified when it came into contact with a high-voltage power cable in Gazipur鈥檚 Sreepur upazila on Saturday morning.
The deceased were identified as Mozammel Hossain Naeem, 24, Mostakim Rahman Mahin, 22, and Jobair Alam Shakib, 22, all of them being Bangladeshis.
Three other students sustained injuries in the incident that occurred in front of the Udaykhali China Project in Telihati union, said Joynal Abedin Mondal, officer-in-charge of Sreepur model police.
He said that the incident occurred at about 10:30am as six Bangladesh Road聽 Transport Corporation double-decker buses carrying around 500 students were heading for Matir Maya Eco Resort in Sreepur from the university campus in Gazipur for picnic.
University vice-chancellor Rafiqul Islam said that聽 it was a moment to think about the students who were injured and move beyond blaming anyone for the incident.
鈥楢fter the incident, we ensured that students who were saved could reach their homes safely,鈥� he said.
Asked if any foreign students were injured in the incident, IUT public relation officer Md Nahidul Islam said that the picnic was organised only for local students.
According to police and witnesses, five buses passed safely but one came into contact with a high-voltage power line.
As it happened three panicked students attempted to jump off the bus but were electrocuted as they came in contact with the electrified body of the vehicle, leaving one student dead in the spot and five injured.
The injured were taken to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared two of them dead.
The hospital鈥檚 deputy director Jakiul Islam said that the bodies were kept at their facility.
University authorities said that the students along with the faculty members of the mechanical and production engineering, and electrical and electronic
engineering departments were going to their annual picnic.
Mechanical and production engineering department professor Arafat Ahmed Bhuiyan said, 鈥楾he incident has left all of us in deep shock, sorrow and unbearable pain.鈥�
The university administration in a notice on Saturday night announced to observe three days of mourning in November 25鈥�27, following the tragedy.
The Gazipur district administration formed a four-member committee, headed by Gazipur additional district magistrate Salma Khatun, to investigate the incident.
