United News of Bangladesh

At least seven people were killed and six others injured after a rice-laden truck plunged into a roadside ditch on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla district early Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Sohrab hossain, son of Alam of Khalibpur village, Afzal Hossain, son of Azad Mia, Salek, son of Fazlur Rahman of Nababganj upazila, Sumon, son of Palash Mia, Bishu, Abul Hossain, son of Mazharul Islam and Abdur Rashid, son of Rakibullah of Birampur upazila in Dinajpur district. Iqbal Bahar, Inspector of Daudkandi Highway Police said the accident occurred around 3 am when the Chattogram-bound rice-laden truck from Dinajpur skidded off the road and fell into a ditch, leaving seven people killed on the spot and six others injured. The injured were taken to local hospital. A total of 13 people travelling on top of the truck were trapped underneath after the accident. Vehicular movement on the highway was disrupted for some time following the accident. Police seized the truck but could not arrest its driver and helper.    

At least 12 people including three children were killed and five others injured as a train crashed into a bus on Padua Bazar level crossing in Cumilla early Sunday. The deceased were identified as—Laiju Akter, 26, Khadiza, 6, Mariam, 3, Tajul islam, 67, Juhad Biswas, 24, Sirajul Islam, 70, Kohinur Begum, 55, Babul Chowdhury, 55, Fachier Rahman, 26, Sohel Rana, 25, Nazrul Islam Raihan, 45, Saida, 9. All of them hailed from different parts of the country ,said Assistant Director of Cumilla Fire Service Mohammad Idris. On information, members of the army, police, fire service and Red Crescent rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations. Witnesses and fire service officials said when Chattogram-bound bus, named Mamun Special, was crossing the level crossing at Padua Bazar around 2:45 am a Dhaka-bound train from Chattogram hit the vehicle. The bus became stuck with the engine of the train and was dragged for around one kilometre before the train came to a halt, leaving the vehicle mangled. Locals and rescuers rushed to the scene following screams of passengers and recovered the injured, who were taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Fire Service officials said three bodies were recovered from the spot while nine others died at Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Train movement on Dhaka–Chattogram route remained suspended for three hours following the accident. Deputy Commissioner Reza Hasan and highway police officials visited the scene. Meanwhile, multiple probe committees have been formed to investigate the accident. The railway authorities formed two separate investigation bodies—a divisional committee and a zonal committee—comprising senior officials from transport, engineering, mechanical, signal and medical departments to determine the cause of the accident, said Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiya, Divisional Manager of Chattogram Railway zone. The committees have been asked to submit its report within three working days. The Cumilla district administration formed a five-member probe committee led by Additional District Magistrate to conduct an independent inquiry, said a media release of Railway Ministry. Officials said the committees will examine possible negligence of duty and safety lapses at the level crossing. Two gatemen have already been suspended over allegations of negligence. Local administration provided financial assistance to the family members of the deceased. Food and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid and State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Ministry Habibur Rashid visited the spot on Sunday. The government also announced to provide Tk one lakh each to the family members of the deceased.  

A six-year-old girl died after being hit by a battery-run autorickshaw in the Kathalia area at Homna upazila of Cumilla on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Maliha, daughter of Sagir Ahmed from Munshikandi Mathabanga village, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Ehsanul Hasan of Homna Police Station. According to locals, Maliha and her twin sister Maisha were playing on the road in front of their house when an auto-rickshaw hit Maliha and fled the scene. 2 schoolboys’ death in road crash sparks protest in Kishoreganj Maisha rushed home and informed their parents, following which family members and relatives rescued Maliha and took her to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared her dead upon arrival, the SI said. The body was handed over to the family without an autopsy as they did not want to file any complaint, the SI added.

A 52-year-old man and his minor son were crushed under the wheels of a train at Nangalkot in Cumilla district on Monday.