Truck Accident Kills Youth, Alleged Settlement Pressure

A 35-year-old man tragically lost his life after being run over by a truck in Gazipur’s Kaliakair area, while allegations have emerged that local political figures attempted to pressure his family into accepting a settlement of 500,000 Taka.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 14 March, in the Loshkorchala area of Madhpara Union, Kaliakair. The deceased has been identified as Masum Rana, the son of Nur Uddin, a resident of the same locality.

According to neighbours and the victim’s family, Masum had been supervising the loading of soil from agricultural land, which had been illegally excavated and sold to local factories for a prolonged period. Despite repeated complaints from local residents, the extraction of soil continued, causing damage to surrounding farmland and roads.

On the night of the incident, Masum was standing near the excavation site in Haturiachala when a drum truck, involved in transporting the soil, ran over him. He was immediately taken by bystanders to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Following the tragedy, local political figures, including Obaidul Sikder, General Secretary of BNP’s Ward 3 in Madhpara Union, along with soil trader Nasir Uddin, reportedly visited Masum’s family. According to witnesses, they proposed a monetary settlement of 500,000 Taka to resolve the matter, allegedly exerting pressure on the bereaved family.

Obaidul Sikder reportedly said, “Our main demand is money. Who pays it is not the concern. I will collect the amount from him [Nasir Uddin].” Witnesses claim he further instructed others to prepare documents and avoid publicising the matter, stating that pursuing legal action would prevent them from receiving the money.

Masum’s elder sister, Sonia Begum, however, rejected the settlement and demanded justice, stating, “My brother was not just killed; he was murdered. We want the perpetrators arrested and held accountable. This was a deliberate act.”

The victim’s relatives allege that the proposed settlement is an attempt to cover up the incident and avoid legal consequences.

Kaliakair Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Khandakar Nasir Uddin, confirmed that no formal written complaint has been received yet. “Police were dispatched to the scene after receiving verbal reports. If a complaint is lodged, appropriate legal action will follow,” he said.

Key Details of the Incident

The case highlights ongoing tensions in the area over illegal soil extraction and raises questions about the influence of local politics in sensitive criminal matters.