A 75-year-old pedestrian was killed after being struck by a truck on the Jhenaidah-Kushtia highway in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah on Wednesday morning.
The accident occurred near Hannan Filling Station, in front of an office of a non-governmental organisation, in the Chandipur area of the highway. The deceased was identified as Tarif Uddin Mondol, son of the late Intaj Mondol of Chandipur village.
According to local residents, Tarif Uddin had gone out for his usual morning walk after performing the Fajr prayer. As he reached the area in front of Hannan Filling Station, a truck travelling from Jhenaidah towards Kushtia reportedly lost control and hit him. The truck then fled the scene.
Tarif Uddin sustained critical injuries in the collision and died at the scene, locals said. The incident caused concern among residents in the area, where the highway is regularly used by pedestrians as well as long-distance vehicles.
On receiving information about the crash, members of the Shailkupa Fire Service and Civil Defence team went to the spot. They recovered the body and completed the necessary initial procedures before handing it over to the authorities.
Jahanur Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Jhenaidah Arappur Highway Police Station, said the body had been recovered and sent to the morgue at Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
He also confirmed that a case had been filed in connection with the accident.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by pedestrians using busy highways, particularly during the early morning hours when visibility may be limited and heavy vehicles continue to move along major transport routes. Residents said the authorities should take appropriate measures to improve road safety and prevent similar tragedies.
Police are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and take steps to identify the truck involved in the incident. The fleeing of the vehicle has also raised concerns among local residents, who want the driver and vehicle to be traced and brought under legal action if found responsible.
The death of the elderly man has cast a pall of grief over Chandipur village, where residents knew him as a regular morning walker. The post-mortem examination and subsequent legal procedures will determine the next steps in the case.
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