It was not immediately clear what caused the accident on a major highway about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Dhaka. A survivor said a front wheel on one of the buses had burst. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the crash would be investigated.

Eleven passengers died at the scene, while another five died later from injuries, local police chief Fakhrul Islam said. About 50 people were injured, including 10 in critical condition.

Such accidents are common in Bangladesh, where traffic rules are often flouted and road conditions are poor. At least 12,000 people die each year in the South Asian nation, an independent research says.