A twenty-eight-year-old battery-powered auto-rickshaw driver, Md Borhan Uddin, also known as Ripon, has died following a fatal electric shock while charging his vehicle in the Noakhali Sadar Upazila.

The tragic incident occurred around 8:00 pm on Monday at Horon Miah’s rickshaw garage, situated in East Char Uria village within the Noakhali Union. According to local sources, Ripon—a resident of the same village and son of Md Milon—had returned to the garage after a full day of operating his vehicle on local routes. While attempting to connect the vehicle’s battery to the charging outlet, he inadvertently came into direct contact with a live electrical connection and suffered severe injuries.

Nearby mechanics and local residents rushed to his aid immediately after the accident, rescuing him from the site and transporting him to the 250-Bed General Hospital in Noakhali. However, the attending physician pronounced him dead upon arrival.

Upon receiving notification of the incident, officers from the Sonapur Police Outpost dispatched a team to the location. Sub-Inspector (SI) Kucharuzzaman confirmed that law enforcement personnel inspected the scene and conducted a formal inquest into the fatality. An unnatural death case has been registered with the local police station to document the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

SI Kucharuzzaman added that because the victim’s family raised no allegations or suspicions of foul play, the body was formally handed over to his relatives for final rites without being subjected to an autopsy.

This incident highlights the growing safety hazards associated with informal auto-rickshaw charging hubs across Bangladesh. Battery-powered auto-rickshaws, widely relied upon for last-mile transportation in semi-urban and rural districts, frequently depend on makeshift garages equipped with uncertified electrical wiring, high-voltage connections, and minimal protective gear. Safety experts have repeatedly pointed out that improper grounding, exposed live wires, and a lack of standard circuit breakers in these garages present acute risks to operators, particularly during routine nightly charging cycles.