Five activists of Mujibnagar Jubo League were killed after their vehicle collided head-on with a picnic bus in Meherpur last night.

The accident happened when a group of Jubo League men were returning to their home in Bagoan village from a programme, marking the 97th birthday of Bangabandhu and National Children's Day, in the district town, police said.

Sheikh Mustafizur Rahman, assistant superintendent of police in Meherpur, said a diesel-run three wheeler, locally known as algamon, and a picnic bus had a head-on collision on Meherpur-Mujibnagar road in Chokshyamnagar area of Mujibnagar around 7:30pm, killing three people on the spot and injuring at least 10 others.

One of the injured died on his way to Meherpur General Hospital, he said.

Touhidul Islam, joint secretary of Mujibnagar Jubo League, said another injured died when he was being taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

He identified all the five victims as activists of Jubo League, the youth body of ruling Awami League.

After the accident, angry locals set fire to the picnic bus, which was heading towards a coaching centre at Sujanagar in Pabna from Mujibnagar Memorial Complex. However, no one was injured.

The driver and the helper of the bus fled, said ASP Mustafizur.

The dead are Tuku Sheikh, 26, Tufan Khan, 27, Nazrul Islam, 32, Anis Ali, 22, and Jhilon Ali, 31. All of them were from Bagoan village in Mujibnagar upazila.

Of the injured, four were being taken to RMCH. Others were at the hospital in Meherpur.

Long tailbacks were created on both sides of Meherpur-Mujibnagar road for three hours after the accident, police said.