Two men in their 50s died after being hit by a speeding bus while crossing the Jashore-Khulna Highway  in the district’s Abhaynagar upazila on Thursday night.

The deceased were identified as Subed Ali, 55, and Kubed Ali, 54, both residents of Paba upazila of Rajshahi.

The accident occurred around 8.45 pm on the Jashore-Khulna Highway near Prembag School in the upazila when the two men returning from picnic in the Sunderbans alighted from their vehicle and attempted to cross the busy highway.

The bus of Rupsha Paribahan hit the duo and sped away, leaving the duo severely injured, eye-witnesses said. Both died of their injuries on the way to hospital.

Siddikur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Noapara Highway police station, said the bus was seized. “Efforts are on to arrest its driver and his assistant.”