Madrasa Student Killed in Noakhali Road Collision

A 14-year-old madrasa student was killed and six others were injured after a CNG-powered autorickshaw collided head-on with a covered van in Noakhali’s Sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon.

The accident occurred at around 3:30 pm on the Sonapur–Chairman Road in the Mannannagar Company Ghat area, according to local residents and police.

The deceased was identified as Abdullah Al Masum, a seventh-grade student at Jamia Islamia Faizia Madrasa in Noakhali Sadar. He was the son of Maulana Kawsar and hailed from Syeder Majhi Bari in Shunyer Char village under Ward No. 8 of Hatiya Municipality.

According to members of the victim’s family, Masum had lunch at home before setting out for his madrasa in the afternoon. He was travelling in a CNG-powered autorickshaw when, upon reaching the Mannannagar Company Ghat area, the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a covered van approaching from the opposite direction.

The impact left the autorickshaw severely damaged and caused multiple casualties.

Besides Masum, six other passengers travelling in the autorickshaw—including a woman and two children—sustained injuries. Local residents rushed to the scene immediately after the collision and rescued the injured before taking them to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital for treatment.

Doctors on duty declared Abdullah Al Masum dead upon his arrival at the hospital.

The remaining injured victims were admitted for medical care. However, officials did not immediately disclose details regarding the extent of their injuries.

Witnesses said the driver of the covered van fled the scene shortly after the collision. Local people intercepted the vehicle and kept it at the scene until law enforcement authorities arrived.

Police later took possession of the covered van as part of the investigation.

Officer-in-Charge Md Kamrul Islam of Sudharam Model Police Station said that no formal complaint had yet been lodged by the victim’s family. He added that the matter would be investigated in accordance with the law and that necessary legal action would be taken if a complaint was filed or evidence of negligence was established during the inquiry.

Road accidents involving CNG-powered autorickshaws, buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles remain a persistent concern across Bangladesh. Many crashes occur on regional highways and busy district roads, often resulting from reckless driving, speeding, unsafe overtaking or failure to comply with traffic regulations. Such incidents continue to claim lives and leave many others seriously injured, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement of road safety laws and greater awareness among motorists.

The death of the young madrasa student has cast a shadow over his family and educational institution. Relatives described Masum as a dedicated student who had been returning to his studies when the tragic accident occurred. His untimely death has also saddened residents of his hometown in Hatiya, where neighbours and well-wishers expressed grief over the loss of a promising young life.

Authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision to determine its cause and whether any legal action should be taken against those responsible.