Seven passengers were killed when a microbus carrying expatriates returning from Oman lost control and fell into a canal in Begumganj Upazila of Noakhali while returning from Dhaka Airport.

The accident occurred in the East Jagdishpur area of Alaiyapur Union in Begumganj Upazila on the Lakshmipur-Noakhali highway on Wednesday morning.

The deceased were identified as Faizun Nesa (80), Khurshida Begum (55), Kabita Begum (30), Labani Begum (30), Reshmi Akhter (10), Meem Akhter (2) and Lamia Akhter (9).

They are residents of the West Chowpali area of Hazirpara union under Chandraganj police station in Lakshmipur district.

Mozammel Haque, an officer at Noakhali Fire Service's Chaumuhani Station, confirmed the accident.

He said that the microbus that met with the accident was carrying family members of an expatriate. The microbus was on its way back from Dhaka Airport with the expatriate returning to Oman when it lost control and fell into a canal.

Mozammel Haque also said that there were 11 people in the microbus, including the driver. Of these, 4 people, including the driver, got out after the accident. The other 7 people died. The deceased were in the back seats of the microbus.

The fire service official initially believes that the accident occurred because the microbus driver was asleep. The bodies of the deceased have been handed over to Chandraganj Highway Police Station, he said.

Lakshmipur Chandraganj Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mobarak Hossain Bhuiyan said the microbus involved in the accident has been recovered. Further legal action will be taken in this regard if the families of the victims file a complaint.