<i>Road crash makes a nightmare of dreams</i>

Holding placards with a call for action against the road mishaps that take many lives every year, students of microbiology department of Dhaka University stand in a human chain on the campus protesting the death of their fellow student Nadia Sultana in a tragic road accident in Feni on Saturday.Photo: STAR

A father sits frozen as if in a trance, with eyes motionless, not uttering a single word in front of his daughter's body at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday.
In a sudden emotional outburst, the 55-year-old cries out, “Oh ma, where are you? Why have you left me?”
The bereaved man, Najir Hossain, a senior store officer of the microbiology department of DU, lost his daughter Nadia Sultana right before his eyes in a tragic road accident in Feni on Saturday.
The ill-fated bus, on which Najir, his wife, Nadia and her sister Nahida Sultana and Nadia's in-laws were returning to the capital from Cox's Bazar after the Eid holidays, fell into a roadside ditch, killing four people on the spot.
The deceased include Nadia's father-in-law Khalilur Rahman while Nahida suffered serious head injuries.
Nahida, a third-year student of applied chemistry and chemical engineering at DU, lies in a Dhaka Medical College Hospital bed, clenching her teeth over the pain in her body.
Only tears roll down her eyes whenever there is mention of her elder sister Nadia, who was scheduled to sit for her masters final exam from microbiology department of DU on January 12 next year.
The 24-year-old Nadia got married only a few months back. Her husband, who was in the UK completing his higher studies, arrived for her namaz-e-janaza at DU Central Mosque after Asr prayers. She was buried in Azimpur graveyard in the afternoon.
Earlier, at around 11:00am, DU students, teachers and staff organised a human chain at the base of Aparajeya Bangla demanding exemplary punishment of the bus driver.
“She was a source of joy for us. She would raise the whole department's spirit with her participation in cultural activities,” said Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, chairman of the microbiology department, at the programme.
“Nadia sang remarkably and was an exceptional performer in drama. Any death is shocking but her sudden demise is quite unnatural and unexpected,” he said.
Teachers and friends termed Nadia's death a “serious loss for the nation” for she was an asset for the department.
“Both sisters are geniuses. You will be surprised to know that they did not take advantage of the quota facility of their father for admission at DU,” said Prof Dr Muhammad Manjurul Karim, students' adviser at the microbiology department.
“The nation has lost a promising scientist,” he said.
A colleague of Najir said the two sisters pursued their studies throughout their schools and colleges without the help of a private tutor.
“Najir always lamented that he did not have enough money to pay for a private tutor for his daughters,” he added.
Expressing his indignation at the frequent deaths in road accidents, Prof Anwar urged the authorities concerned to take the required steps to stop such deaths.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique has expressed deep shock over Nadia's death. He told The Daily Star that the university authorities would bear the medical expenses of Nahida.