A tragic road accident on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway has claimed the lives of a mother and her daughter after a passenger-carrying microbus lost control and crashed into an electric pole in Sitakunda, Chittagong. Four other passengers sustained injuries during the collision, which occurred on Wednesday morning around 8:30 am in front of the Barabkunda Power Development Board facility on the Chittagong-bound lane.
The deceased have been identified as Rozy Akhtar, 60, widow of the late Najibur Rahman, and her daughter Najma Khatun, 42, wife of Aslam Hossain. Both victims hailed from Jaipurhat district, with Rozy residing in Badsha village under Jaipurhat Municipality and Najma residing in Jamalganj village. Amongst the injured, one passenger has been identified as 52-year-old Md. Altaf Hossain, whilst the identities of the remaining three victims are yet to be confirmed.
According to local witnesses and highway police sources, the vehicle was traveling towards Chittagong city when the driver suddenly lost control of the steering, causing the microbus to veer off the road and strike a nearby utility pole with severe force. The front section of the microbus suffered substantial damage, pinning several occupants inside.
Local residents rushed to the scene immediately to initiate rescue operations and extracted the trapped passengers. The severely injured mother and daughter were transported to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for urgent treatment. However, attending physicians declared both of them dead upon arrival due to the severity of their injuries. The four surviving passengers received medical attention for various degrees of trauma.
Sub-Inspector (SI) Zaman from the Bar Aulia Highway Police Station confirmed the details of the fatal crash, stating that police officers promptly arrived at the location to manage traffic flow and secure the wreckage. Highway authorities have seized the damaged vehicle, and legal proceedings surrounding the incident are currently underway to determine the precise cause of the loss of control.
Highway traffic along the Dhaka-Chittagong artery is frequently subject to severe collisions, particularly on stretches where high speeds, driver fatigue, or sudden mechanical failures occur. Local residents have repeatedly voiced concerns regarding road safety along this vital trade corridor, demanding stricter speed enforcement and enhanced monitoring to prevent recurring fatal accidents.
