Dhaka, Aug. 7 -- Seven members of a family were killed when a microbus veered into a roadside canal in the early hours of Wednesday, allegedly due to the driver falling asleep at the wheel.

The tragic incident occurred around 5:40 am in the Chandraganj Purbo Bazar area of Begumganj upazila, Noakhali.

The victims were identified as Foyezjunnessa (80), Morshida Begum (55), Kabita Begum (24), Laboni Begum (30), Reshmi Akter (8), Lamia Akter (9), and Mim Akter (2). All were members of the same family and relatives of Oman expatriate Bahar Uddin, who had just returned home after three years abroad.

Survivor Bahar Uddin recounted the harrowing moments before the vehicle submerged. "The microbus didn't sink immediately-it floated for a while....