A senior faculty member of Rajshahi University (RU) was killed and his colleague critically injured in a road accident on Friday morning in Paba upazila of Rajshahi district.
Police identified the deceased as Shiv Shankar Roy, 58, a professor in the Marketing Department, while Md Asaduzzaman, a colleague from the Department of Philosophy, sustained critical injuries and is receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
According to officer-in-charge Monirul Islam of Paba Police Station, the accident occurred around 7am near the Ansar Camp on the Naogaon-Rajshahi highway in Nowhata area.
“A vehicle collided with the motorcycle on which the two teachers were riding and fled the scene, leaving them critically injured,” he said.
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Locals rushed to the site and took them to the hospital. But, Prof Shankar succumbed to his injuries before reaching medical care. Prof Asaduzzaman remains unconscious.
RU Assistant Proctor Gias Uddin said the teachers were heading to Nowhata for fishing, with Prof Asaduzzaman riding the motorcycle. Prof Shankar, who was the pillion passenger, suffered severe head injuries and is believed to have died instantly.
The body of Prof Shankar has been kept at Rajshahi Medical College morgue, and arrangements are underway to send it to his native home in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna district.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the university community as colleagues, students and authorities have expressed deep sorrow over the untimely death of the veteran academic.