At least 12 people were killed and dozens of others were injured after a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck collided head-on in Bangladesh's Natore district.

The accident occurred in the Natore area, located about 200 kilometres northwest of the capital Dhaka, when the passenger bus and the truck crashed into each other.

Local media reports initially said that 14 people were killed and around 20 to 30 others were injured in the collision. However, police later revised the death toll to 12, while authorities continued investigating the incident.

The injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals and clinics for treatment. Some of those injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Authorities said preliminary findings indicated that reckless driving may have contributed to the crash.

Road accidents remain a major concern

Traffic accidents are a frequent cause of deaths in Bangladesh, where road safety remains a major challenge.

According to the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, thousands of road accidents occur across the country every year, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries.

Authorities have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, improved road conditions and greater awareness among drivers to reduce the number of fatal crashes.(ILKHA)