Nine killed in road accidents in four districts

At least nine persons were killed and several others injured in separate road accidents in Dhaka, Jashore, Jamalpur and Netrokona districts yesterday and the day before, according to reports from our correspondents.

In Dhaka, two motorcyclists died on the spot after a concrete mixer truck ran them over in Banani area at around 9:00am ysterday morning.

The deceased are: Ashfaqul Rahman Asif, 24, a student of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University hailing from Kushtia; and Asif Mahmud Sompod, 21, a student of Bangladesh Marine Academy hailing from Magura.

The accident took place near Kakoli Bus Stand when the motorcycle was heading towards Mohakhali, said Rasel Sarwar, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station.

Mehedi Hasan, warehouse inspector at Kurmitola Fire Station, said the motorcycle skidded on the road before a truck ran them over.

Police seized the truck and detained the driver's assistant, but the driver managed to flee the scene, the OC added.

In Jashore, four persons were killed and five injured in separate road accidents in past two days.

Asif Hossain, 22, a student of Jashore Polytechnic Institute and resident of Sadar upazila, died after losing control of motorbike and hitting a truck at Tentultala intersection on Jashore-Jhenaidah highway at around 2:30pm yesterday.

"Asif was riding recklessly. Suddenly, he lost control and hit a truck. He died on the spot," said Rakibul Islam Shuvo, who was riding pillion.

On information, police recovered the body from the spot and kept it at a hospital morge for autopsy, said Jashore Kotwali Police Station OC Abul Hasanat.

In a separate incident at Bijoynagar intersection near Churamonkati Bazar Sadar upazila, two motorcycles collided head-on on Saturday afternoon, leaving three persons critically injured.

They were rushed to Jashore General Hospital where Fazlul Haque, a police constable, succumbed to his injuries at night. The two others — Riyad Hossain and Mamun Hossain — were referred to Khulna and Dhaka respectively for advanced treatment, said Dr Firoz Ahmed of the hospital's surgery department.

Riyad died later at night while being treated at Khulna Medical College Hospital, said his relative Tariqul Islam. Mamun was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Also, in Faridpur area of Dewara union, an easy bike hit a sand pile and overturned, leaving a child named Tausif critically injured on Saturday.

He was rushed to Jashore General Hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival, said Dr Jobair Hossain of the hospital's emergency department.

Abul Hasanat, OC of Jashore Kotwali Police Station, confirmed both incidents.

In Jamalpur, a child died after being hit by an autorickshaw in Taltala area under Bakshiganj upazila at around 3:00pm yesterday.

The deceased, Rafi Mia, 5, was crossing the road when the speeding auto-rickshaw hit him and fled the scene.

Locals rushed him to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, OC of Bakshiganj Highway Police Station, confirmed the incident.

In Netrokona, a couple was killed as their auto-rickshaw was hit by a speedy covered van on Saturday night. Two others were critically injured.

The incident took place at Paboi area on Shyamganj-Birishiri road in Purbadhala upazila at around 8:00pm. The deceased were identified as Md Nizam Uddin, 55, an auto-rickshaw driver, and his wife Rokeya Khatun, 45. They were returning home after attending an event. They both died on the spot.

On information, police recovered the bodies and took the injured to Purbadhala Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Locals managed to apprehend the van's driver Md Rasel, 30, and his assistant Mehedi Hasan and later handed them over to police, said Purbadhala OC Md Nurul Alam.