A 75-year-old woman was killed by a speeding truck on the Rangpur-Dhaka highway in Shothibari, Mithapukur, Rangpur on Friday, prompting locals to block the road for nearly four hours demanding an overbridge to allow pedestrians to cross safely.
The deceased, Azuba Begum, was the wife of the late Nehal Uddin from Rasulpur village in Komudpur union of Pirganj upazila.
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 3pm while she was crossing the road. The location has been notorious for accidents, with 4–5 pedestrian deaths reported there in the past six months. Locals have repeatedly demanded an overbridge, citing the site’s high risk.
During the protest, hundreds of vehicles were stranded, causing severe traffic congestion.
Mithapukur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Parvez and OC Md. Nuruzzaman visited the site, urged protesters to lift the blockade, and the road reopened around 7 pm.
OC Nuruzzaman confirmed the overbridge demand is reasonable and said authorities would hold a meeting next Tuesday at the upazila office to decide on prompt action.