16 Bangladeshis killed in UAE road crash

At least 22 expatriate workers including, 16 Bangladeshis, died and many others were injured on Monday when the bus they were travelling in was involved in a collision with a lorry in the UAE city of Al Ain, a Bangladeshi Consular in Abu Dhabi said.

The rest of the deceased are from India and Pakistan.

Lt Col Latiful Hoq Kazmi, a Bangladeshi consular officer in the Abu Dhabi embassy, told bdnews24.com that the number of dead Bangladeshi workers could rise.

Of the deceased Bangladeshi workers, nine were identified as ‘Alauddin’, son of Motaleb Hossain, Sirajul Islam, son of Nazir Ai, Wasir Ali, son of Wajed Ali, Nurul Alam, son of Anwarul Alam, Faruk Hossain, son of Monir Hossain, Joynal Ali Kabiraj, son of Kashem Kabiraj, Anwar Hossain, son of Sundar Ali, one Shahjahan Molla and one Borhan Uddin.

Local daily, Gulf News reported quoting Brigadier Hussain Ahmad Al Harithi, Director of Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrol Directorate, that the accident happened at around 7:45am (9:45am Bangladesh time) on the Al Ain-Abu Dhabi Truck Road, near Al Rawdah palace, when the bus, that was carrying the workers, apparently crashed with a truck.

The truck carrying sand and other construction material veered off the road and collided with the bus.

The bodies of the workers have been transferred to Al Ain Hospital’s morgue, while the injured have been transferred to Al Ain, Al Tawam, Al Noor and NMC hospitals, the report said.

The bus was reportedly carrying 46 cleaners from various companies.

Those killed included 20 Bangladeshis and one Pakistani, the Gulf News report said.

Police have cordoned off the area while the investigation is on.

Police are calling on contracting companies and transportation agencies to ensure the strictest enforcement of safety rules while transporting workers, and regularly inspect vehicle safety standards. They also warned truck companies not to overload their vehicles and ensure safe driving under all conditions.