One priesthood candidate, a diocesan major seminarian, died and two others were injured in two road accidents yesterday.

Kishore Cruze, 25, a second-year seminarian at the country’s only Holy Spirit national major seminary, was one of five people killed in Karatia, some 90 kilometers north of Dhaka, when the bus he was traveling in overturned.

His colleague Mintu Rozario, 26, badly injured his right leg in the accident.

Both hailed from Bonpara parish in northwestern Natore district and were traveling back to their seminary in Dhaka from their homes after a summer vacation.

Another seminarian, Sonjoy Chisim, 28, a tribal Garo Catholic from Mariamnagar parish in northeastern Sherpur, received head and chest injuries when the bus he was travelling in collided with a truck on the Dhaka-Gazipur highway, also yesterday.

Cruze was buried today. Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi commented: “I’m badly hurt at this tragic death. He (Kishore) was among the best seminarians and could have made a very good priest for our diocese. I offer condolences to his shocked family and relatives.”

Assistant seminary rector Father Sebastian Tudu said the whole seminary as well as the Church is in deep mourning.

“Kishore was a good and prayerful seminarian. His untimely death is a blow for all of us,” the priest said.