Two teenage girls have died after being struck by a speeding truck in Shyamoli, in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. The accident occurred at around 5.30 am on Friday beneath the footbridge at Shyamoli intersection.
Both victims were under 18. One of the girls died at the scene, while the other, identified as Mukta, succumbed to her injuries after being taken to hospital. Police have yet to establish the identity of the second victim.
Md Jony, a sub-inspector at Mohammadpur Police Station, told the media that the two girls were crossing the road together when a speeding truck ran over them and drove away.
According to the officer, one of the girls died immediately at the scene. The other was still alive after the incident and managed to identify herself as Mukta.
Police rescued the injured girl and took her to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for treatment. However, she later died at the hospital.
The bodies of both victims have been kept at the hospital’s morgue, police said.
Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the deceased and trace their families. Police have also begun efforts to identify the truck involved in the accident and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The truck could not be stopped immediately because the accident occurred in the early hours of the morning. Police have not yet disclosed the vehicle’s registration number or the driver’s identity.
The incident has renewed concerns about pedestrian safety on Dhaka’s busy roads. Although traffic is generally lighter in the early morning, speeding vehicles can pose serious risks to people crossing major roads and intersections.
Footbridges are intended to provide safer crossing points for pedestrians, but ensuring road safety also depends on responsible driving and effective enforcement of traffic regulations.
Further information about the cause of the accident and the vehicle involved is expected to emerge as the police investigation progresses. Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to identify both victims and trace the truck that fled the scene.
