A journey that ended too soon

Five friends, a car, and a trip to Cox's Bazar -- this was supposed to be one of the many highlights of their lives. It was a time to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind, but what they didn't know is that the trip they were looking forward to would lead to their demise.

The five youngsters met their fate in a road accident, after a truck collided head-on with their car on Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway in Lohagara upazila yesterday morning.

The deceased are Md Sakib Risvee (25), Md Sajid Khan (28), Md Monsur Ali (25), Md Harunur Rasid (30) and Saiful Islam (25). They lived in different places of Chattogram, including Sagorika, Andarkillah and Satkania upazila.

Among the dead, Sakib was the founder president of "Xtreme Rollerz of Chittagong", a platform of motorbike stunt-riders, while Sajid was the platform's vice president.

Sajid was also involved with Chhatra League in Satkania municipality area. Monsur was a second-year student of Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College.

OC Sirajul Islam of Dohazari Highway Police Station said, "During the incident, Sakib was driving the car, and a dump-truck coming from the opposite direction collided with the car around 5:30am, leaving four dead on the spot."

On information, police and fire service rushed to the spot and started a rescue operation. Critically injured Monsur died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Mansur's uncle Mahmud Hossain told The Daily Star, "Monsur told his family that he was going to Cox's Bazar with friends... We don't know how to console each other over the death of such a young soul."

DRIVER, HELPER FLEE

After the accident, the truck's driver and helper managed to flee, said police.

OC Sirajul said police seized the truck, and no one claimed it till yesterday evening.

This correspondent checked the truck's number in Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority's database. The truck was registered with BRTA on February 25 last year.

The bodies were handed over to the families without autopsy, and a case was filed.