A lorry driver miraculously survived a severe collision on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway in the early hours of Thursday after becoming trapped inside the crushed cab of his vehicle.

The incident occurred at around 3:00 am in the Kamarkhola area of Sreenagar Upazila, along the Dhaka-bound lane of the expressway. The driver, identified as 55-year-old Azgar Khondokar from Kashiani Upazila in Gopalganj, was transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders from Mongla to the capital. His vehicle lost control and rammed heavily into the rear of a covered van travelling ahead, which had originated from Magura.

The violent impact severely crumpled the front portion of the cylinder-laden lorry, pinning Mr Khondokar inside the wreckage. His chest was compressed firmly against the steering wheel, leaving him critically injured and completely immobile.

Upon receiving emergency calls, two units from the Sreenagar Fire Station rushed to the scene to undertake a delicate extraction operation. Fire service personnel noted that standard extraction methods proved impossible due to the structural deformation of the vehicle. Emergency crews deployed specialized hydraulic rescue gear to cut through the twisted metal, successfully freeing the driver after an intensive 20-minute effort.

Following his rescue, firefighters promptly transported Mr Khondokar to the Sreenagar Upazila Health Complex for urgent medical attention.

Highlighting the gravity of the incident, Muhammad Safiqul Islam, Deputy Assistant Director of the Munshiganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed that the primary risk involved the volatile cargo. Had the lorry overturned or suffered structural breaches, the gas cylinders could have posed an imminent danger of explosion. Swift intervention by first responders neutralized the hazard and ensured the safe extraction of the driver.

The Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, officially designated as the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Expressway, remains one of Bangladesh’s critical high-speed arteries, connecting the southwestern regions to Dhaka via the Padma Bridge. Despite reduced travel times, high-speed night transit on this route frequently presents hazards related to driver fatigue, unexpected stopping, and tailgating, prompting continuous vigilance from highway police and emergency response authorities.