Five Killed in Expressway Collision

A devastating road accident on the Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway has claimed the lives of five people, including four members of the same family, after a private car crashed into the rear of a truck carrying gas cylinders in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The fatal collision occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. near the Maligram Flyover in Bhanga Upazila, Faridpur District. According to police and fire service officials, the private vehicle was travelling from Dhaka to Jashore when it struck a stationary truck positioned in the same lane of the expressway. The impact was so severe that the car was extensively crushed, leaving several occupants trapped inside.

Emergency responders from the fire service and police rushed to the scene shortly after receiving reports of the crash. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were rescued with serious injuries and transported to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex. One of the injured later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment, bringing the death toll to five.

Victims Identified

Authorities said the victims were returning to Jashore after collecting a family member from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Ariful Islam, a Bangladeshi expatriate who had arrived from Malaysia, was among those killed.

The deceased have been identified as:

Nur Jahan was the wife of Shahidul Islam, a resident of Baliadangi village under Jhikargachha Upazila. The family had travelled to Dhaka to receive Ariful following his return from Malaysia. Their journey home ended in tragedy when the vehicle collided with the truck near the Maligram Flyover.

Rescue and Medical Response

Abu Zafar, Station Officer of Bhanga Fire Service, said rescue personnel worked alongside police officers to recover victims from the wreckage. The injured were initially treated at Bhanga Upazila Health Complex before being referred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for advanced medical care. Despite efforts by doctors, one of the critically injured victims later died.

Sub-Inspector Nur Alam of Shibchar Highway Police Station confirmed that four people, including the driver, died instantly. He added that the remaining fatality occurred after hospital admission. Apart from the driver, all the deceased belonged to the same family.

Ongoing Investigation

Police have recovered the mangled private car and initiated legal proceedings. Investigators are examining the circumstances that led to the truck remaining stationary on the expressway and whether proper safety measures, warning lights, or hazard signals were in place at the time of the accident.

The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns over road safety on Bangladesh’s expanding network of expressways, particularly regarding stalled vehicles and visibility during pre-dawn hours. Authorities are expected to review the incident thoroughly to determine liability and identify measures that may help prevent similar accidents in the future.

Local residents and relatives of the victims have expressed profound grief over the loss of an entire family in a single road crash, turning what should have been a joyful homecoming into a heartbreaking tragedy.