The dead were identified as Dumuria upazila Agriculture officer Rahmat Ali,42, and his wife Rubia Khatoon,34, a nurse of the same upazila hospital.

The accident occurred when a Khulna-bound passenger bus from Paikgacha upazila ran over them while they were crossing the Khulna-Satkhira highway at 9:00am, witnesses said.

Rahmat was killed as he tried to save his wife, witnesses added.

The bodies have been sent to Khulna Medical hospital (KMCH) morgue for autopsy.

The deceased left behind their two sons, one of whom is a student of BBA class of Khulna University.

A mob put up barricades on Khulna-Satkhira highway and damaged six passenger buses, 14 three-wheeler vans, two private cars and six roadside shops following the accident. Transport services remained suspended until 11:30am.

The mob detained the bus while its driver managed to escape.

Meanwhile, all officials and employees of Dumuria upazila abstained from the work protesting the accident.