Four female workers of Uttara EPZ died when a train hit a battery-run three-wheeler in Nilphamari Sadar upazila yesterday, while five people were killed as a bus rammed a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Bogura's Sherpur.

In Nilphamari, the Chilahati-bound Rupsha intercity train from Khulna crashed into the three-wheeler when it was crossing an unauthorised level crossing in Sonarai Dhonipara village around 6:00am, locals said.

Three women were killed on the spot while five others and the driver of the three wheeler were critically injured.

Locals said nine female workers of the nearby EPZ hired the three-wheeler, locally known as easy bike, to go to work at different factories.

The four critically injured women and the driver were rushed to Nilphamari Sadar Hospital, from there they were referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as their condition was very critical.

Later, another injured woman died at the medical college.

The deceased are Romana Akhtar, 25, Shefali Begum, 35, Sayra Banu, 24, Minara Begum, 25. They are from Sonarai Dhonipara and Koranipara villages.

Witness Afazuddin, 50, said the three-wheeler driver could not notice the approaching train as there was dense fog.

Abdur Rahman Biswas, officer-in-charge of Saidpur Railway Police, said the level crossing is unauthorised and it has no gate and guard.

In Bogura, a bus rammed a CNG-run auto-rickshaw on the Bogura-Rangpur highway in Sherpur's Mirzapur around 5:00pm yesterday, killing five people, including a woman, on the spot and injuring another.

AKM Baniul Anam, inspector of Sherpur highway police camp, said all the deceased were auto-rickshaw passengers.

There were six people in the vehicle, including the driver, he said, adding that the auto-rickshaw driver was also killed in the accident.

Pias Ahmed, a passenger of the Bogura-bound, said, "Near the accident spot, the road condition is bad. The auto-rickshaw came into the middle of the road. At the same time, our bus also overtook another vehicle. Hence the head-on-collision occurred."

The bus driver and the helper managed to flee.

Three of the deceased are Hridoy, 25, and his wife Sathia, 21, of Dhunat, and Anwar, 35, of Sherpur. The identities of two others could not be known.

In another accident, Motiur Rahman Mintu, 40, of Bogura's Kahalu, died when an intercity train hit him while he was crossing Belghoria level crossing on a motorcycle around noon.

Ashraful Haque, 55, an independent chairman candidate of Shukanpukur Union Parishad elections, was also killed in a rash around 4:00pm yesterday.

[Our correspondents in Nilphamari and Bogura contributed to this report.]