A fatal road accident on the Chattogram–Kaptai highway in Rাউজান upazila escalated into arson on Sunday night, when enraged locals set fire to two passenger buses following the death of a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw driver.
The incident occurred at around 10:45 pm near the Maijjar Ghat area of Urkirchar union. According to eyewitness accounts, the collision took place when a CNG auto-rickshaw attempted to overtake on a sharp bend and collided head-on with an oncoming long-distance bus travelling from Kaptai towards Chattogram.
The impact of the collision was severe, leaving the auto-rickshaw mangled beyond recognition. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Nazrul Islam from Mirder Para village in West Gujra union of Rাউজান, died at the scene. A passenger travelling in the CNG vehicle sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Following the crash, traffic on the busy highway came to a complete standstill for nearly an hour, causing significant disruption and distress among commuters stranded on both sides of the road.
Tensions escalated further when a group of agitated locals set fire to the bus involved in the collision, operated by a long-distance service. The flames quickly spread to another nearby passenger bus, identified as a city-bound service operating on a route from Chandraghona. Both vehicles were engulfed before firefighters could fully contain the blaze.
Two fire service units from Kalurghat and Rাউজান were deployed to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control shortly after midnight. By then, both buses had been extensively damaged. Police later confirmed that additional forces were required to restore order as the situation remained volatile for some time.
Authorities reported that traffic flow resumed gradually around 12:15 am after clearance operations were completed.
Incident overview
| Category |
Details |
| Time of incident |
Around 10:45 pm, Sunday |
| Location |
Maijjar Ghat area, Chattogram–Kaptai road, Rাউজান |
| Fatalities |
1 (CNG driver) |
| Injuries |
1 seriously injured passenger |
| Vehicles involved |
1 CNG auto-rickshaw, 2 buses |
| Property damage |
Two buses burned |
| Emergency response |
Two fire service units, police deployment |
| Traffic disruption |
Approximately 1 hour complete blockade |
Police officials from the local outpost confirmed that the accident resulted from a risky overtaking manoeuvre on a bend, while also acknowledging that mob violence led to the destruction of both buses. Investigations are underway, and the wrecked vehicles have been seized for further examination.
Authorities have urged restraint, warning that taking the law into one’s own hands only worsens already tragic situations.
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