Fatal Collision Claims Student Life

A tragic road traffic collision in south-western Bangladesh has claimed the life of a college student and left two others injured after a head-on crash between a bus and an auto-rickshaw in Barishal.

The incident occurred at around 12:00 noon on Thursday along the Pirojpur–Barishal regional highway at the Dumuritola area. According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, a local passenger bus travelling from Barishal collided head-on with an oncoming auto-rickshaw, resulting in a devastating impact that killed an 18-year-old college student on the spot.

The deceased has been identified as Maria Akter, daughter of Abul Kalam from the Baneshwarpur area. She was a first-year student at Afthab Uddin College, which is located in the same region and is formally represented as Afthab Uddin College. Her mother, Hawa Begum (45), and the auto-rickshaw driver, Russell (35), both residents of Baneshwarpur, sustained injuries in the collision.

Eyewitnesses stated that the bus, travelling at moderate speed from Barishal, attempted to pass through the Dumuritola stretch when the auto-rickshaw approached from the opposite direction. The vehicles collided violently in the middle of the road, leaving the auto-rickshaw severely damaged and its passengers trapped in the wreckage. Locals rushed to the scene immediately and assisted in rescue operations before emergency services arrived.

All three victims were transported to the district hospital in Pirojpur District. However, attending physicians confirmed that Maria Akter had already succumbed to her injuries upon arrival. Her mother, Hawa Begum, was later referred to a higher medical facility due to the severity of her condition, while the driver is receiving treatment under medical supervision.

Incident Summary

Police from the local station visited the accident site shortly after the incident. Officer-in-Charge Md. Shariful Islam confirmed that the bus involved in the collision has been seized for investigation. Legal proceedings are currently underway to determine responsibility and whether any traffic violations contributed to the crash.

The fatal incident has once again raised concerns over road safety on regional highways, particularly regarding speeding, lane discipline, and the condition of public transport vehicles operating between Barishal and surrounding districts.