The accident occurred at around 6.30am on 2 November in front of the two-storey mosque in the Southpara area of Gayatala, under Latabdi Union. The three men had reportedly finished their Fajr prayers and were sitting together outside a shop when the truck ran into them.
The deceased were identified as Nekbar Sarkar, 65, son of the late Lechu Sarkar of Ramanandan village in Latabdi Union, and Md Kaiyum Dewan, 100, son of the late Shahor Ali Dewan of Gayatala Southpara. The injured man was identified as Hashem Bepari, 75, who also lives in the same locality.
According to local residents, the three men had gathered near the mosque after performing their early morning prayers. They initially walked around the mosque before sitting outside a nearby shop to chat. At that point, a truck carrying bricks, which was travelling from the Sirajdikhan direction, struck them.
The impact left all three men injured. Nekbar Sarkar died at the scene, while Kaiyum Dewan sustained critical injuries. He was being taken to hospital for treatment when he died on the way. Hashem Bepari received initial medical treatment and subsequently returned home.
Describing the incident, Hashem Bepari said they had been walking near the mosque after completing their Fajr prayers. They later sat outside a shop and were talking when the truck suddenly hit them.
He said Nekbar Sarkar died immediately, while he and Kaiyum Dewan were injured. Kaiyum later succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital.
Dr Mehedi Hasan, a physician at the emergency department of Sirajdikhan Upazila Health Complex, confirmed that a critically injured elderly man had been brought to the hospital by local residents in the morning. After conducting an examination, medical staff declared him dead.
Sirajdikhan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Alauddin said police had been sent to the scene after receiving reports that two elderly men had died in a road accident.
He added that the authorities would investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and take appropriate legal action.
The deaths have raised fresh concerns over road safety in residential areas, particularly where heavy vehicles share roads with pedestrians and people gathering near local shops and places of worship.
Early morning hours are often a time when residents visit mosques, walk along nearby roads and gather at neighbourhood shops. Such locations can become particularly vulnerable when heavy vehicles pass through without adequate caution.
The incident also highlights the risks posed by loaded trucks travelling through populated areas. Maintaining appropriate speeds, ensuring drivers remain alert and exercising additional care near mosques, markets and residential settlements are essential to reducing the likelihood of similar accidents.
Police have said an investigation is under way. However, details about the truck driver, the precise circumstances that led to the collision and whether anyone has been detained were not immediately available.
