Truck kills two toll collectors in Rajshahi

Two toll collectors were killed as a truck ran them over when they asked to stop the vehicle in Rajshahi early yesterday.

Alam, 35, and Abdus Samad, 40, members of the district’s Truck Labourers Union, were hit intentionally to avoid paying toll, alleged the union’s president Alamgir Hossain.

The incident happened near Godagari Medical intersection after the two in a motorcycle chased the truck for 15km from Chapainawabganj town, said police and the union leader.

The truck slowed down near the intersection around 12:15am when the duo overtook the vehicle and stopped in front of it, said Alamgir. At that time, the truck driver increased speed and hit them, he quoted witnesses as saying.

Alam died on the spot and Samad on the way to Godagari Upazila Health Complex, said Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge of Godagari Police Station.

Both the victims were from Bidirpur village in Chapainawabganj, said Alamgir, adding that they were enlisted drivers of the union’s Rajshahi unit.

OC Jahangir said they were trying to identify the truck and arrest its driver.

No case was filed till filing of this report last evening.