Schoolgirl Killed By Bus On Way To School

A nine-year-old third-grade pupil was killed after being run over by a passenger bus while walking to school with her mother in Phulbari, Dinajpur, on Tuesday morning.

The victim, Shipa Moni, was struck in the Bastand-Bottoli area of Phulbari municipal town at around 7.45am while attempting to cross the road with her mother. The incident triggered anger among local residents, who blocked the Dinajpur-Dhaka regional highway for about an hour, disrupting traffic in the area.

Shipa was the daughter of Istamul Haque, from North Sujapur village in Phulbari municipality. She was a third-grade student at North Point School in the town. Her mother, Rikta Parvin, works at the same school as a support staff member.

According to police and local sources, Shipa was on her way to school with her mother when the accident occurred. As they were crossing the road near the Bastand-Bottoli area, a passenger bus travelling from Dinajpur towards Birampur reportedly hit the child. The bus was identified as Shahi Dhaka Metro-B-12-3315.

The bus allegedly left the scene immediately after the collision.

Local residents rushed to Shipa’s aid and took her to Phulbari Upazila Health Complex in a critical condition. However, doctors at the facility declared her dead after she was brought there.

News of the child’s death quickly spread through the area, prompting local residents to gather outside the health complex. At around 9am, protesters blocked the Dinajpur-Dhaka regional highway and kept it closed until approximately 10am.

The blockade caused significant disruption along the busy regional route. Hundreds of vehicles became stranded on both sides of the highway, leaving passengers and drivers caught in the resulting congestion.

Phulbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Hasan went to the scene at around 10am and spoke to the protesting residents. He assured them that the authorities would take necessary action over the incident. Following the assurance, the protesters withdrew the blockade and traffic movement gradually resumed.

Phulbari Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Ferdous Alam said police had seized the bus involved in the accident and taken it to the police station. However, the driver and his assistant fled after the incident and had not been detained at the time of the report.

Police completed the initial legal procedures, including preparation of the inquest report, before handing Shipa’s body over to her family.

The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by pedestrians, particularly children, while crossing busy roads. In this case, the child was accompanied by her mother on the way to school when the fatal collision occurred. Police said legal proceedings were under way in connection with the death.