DHAKA, Bangladesh - A police officer says an overnight bus packed with passengers veered off the road, hit trees and plunged into a ditch, killing at least 24 people and injuring 22 others in southwestern Bangladesh.

The accident took place early Thursday in the Bhanga area of Faridpur district when the bus was travelling from Dhaka to the southern district of Barisal.

The cause of the accident wasn't clear, but passengers said the driver apparently lost control. It was not known yet if the driver was among the dead.

Road accidents are very common in Bangladesh because of lax enforcement of traffic laws and unsafe driving. Researchers say about 12,000 people die each year in road accidents.