United News of Bangladesh

Unfit open-top jeeps, locally known as "Chander Gari," continue to ply the hilly roads of Khagrachhari, defying government regulations and posing significant risks to passengers. Reckless driving by unskilled drivers often leads to accidents, particularly on the route to the popular Sajek Valley tourist destination. Most of these jeeps operate without licenses, fitness certificates, or road permits. Over the past one and a half months, accidents involving these vehicles have claimed at least five lives and injured more than 50 people. Despite this, an estimated 3,000 such jeeps are in operation across Khagrachhari’s tourist spots and inter-district roads. Local transport syndicates control the operation of these unfit vehicles, dictating fares for tourists through the Jeep Owners’ Association. Many travellers have expressed frustration over the unchecked irregularities, citing a lack of regulatory oversight.

Two schoolgirls were killed and another was injured when a goods-laden jeep (locally known as Chander Gari) knocked them down at Pelagazi intersection in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Mishu Akter, 15 and Nishu Moni, 17, both were students of class X. Alamgir Hossain, sub-inspector of Fatikchhari Police Station, said the accident occurred around 1 pm when the speedy vehicle ran over the students while trying to flee from the area ignoring police signal, leaving two girls dead on the spot and another injured. The injured girl was taken to a local hospital. Read: Man dies after being hit by train in city Police seized the jeep but could not arrest its driver. Angered by the incident, local people put up a barricade on the road for one hour, disrupting traffic movement.