A 46-year-old pedestrian was killed after being struck by a speeding private car while crossing a road at the Sholoshahar Polytechnic intersection in Chattogram city early on Thursday.
The victim, identified as Delwar Hossain, was crossing the road at around 5:30am when the vehicle hit him. He sustained critical injuries in the collision and was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment. However, doctors at the hospital’s emergency department examined him and declared him dead.
Delwar was the son of Nur Nabi of Joynarayanpur area in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni district.
According to Abdur Rahim, officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station, the private car was travelling at high speed when it struck Delwar at the intersection. The accident occurred at a time when visibility on the road was limited because of the early morning darkness. As a result, police could not immediately identify the vehicle from the scene.
Investigators subsequently collected closed-circuit television footage from the area and began examining it to determine the vehicle involved in the crash. Police said the footage was being reviewed to identify the car and establish the circumstances surrounding the collision. Once the vehicle and the person responsible are confirmed, legal action will be taken in accordance with the law, the police officer said.
Nurul Alam Ashique, sub-inspector and in-charge of the police outpost at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, said Delwar was brought to the hospital after sustaining injuries in the road accident. Despite being taken to the emergency department, he was pronounced dead after medical examination.
His body was later placed in the hospital morgue.
The accident has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by pedestrians on busy urban roads, particularly during the early morning hours. Reduced visibility can make it harder for drivers to notice people crossing roads, while excessive speed can leave little time for drivers to react when a pedestrian enters their path.
Intersections and major roads require particular attention because pedestrians and vehicles often share the same space. Adequate street lighting, controlled vehicle speeds and safer facilities for pedestrians to cross roads can help reduce the risk of serious crashes.
In this case, police are relying on CCTV footage to establish the identity of the vehicle involved. The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings will determine the circumstances of the collision and the responsibility of the driver.
For Delwar’s family, however, the incident has already resulted in an irreversible loss. A routine road crossing in the early hours of the day ended in his death, highlighting the continuing dangers pedestrians can face when visibility is poor and vehicles travel at speed.
