The accidents occurred at Ghonapara and Bijoypasha in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila, leaving two families mourning the loss of their loved ones.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Sattar Sardar, 85, a freedom fighter from Khaspur village in Khoajpur Union of Madaripur Sadar Upazila, and Obaidur Khandaker, 35, from Sultan Shahi village in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila. Abdul Sattar was the son of Kochir Sardar, while Obaidur was the son of Akman Khandaker.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhatiapara Highway Police Station, SM Muntasir Mahmud, confirmed the deaths and provided details of the two incidents.
According to the police, Abdul Sattar Sardar was travelling in a pickup truck carrying goods to his son’s residence in Mongla, Bagerhat. The vehicle was passing the area in front of an eye hospital at Ghonapara when its driver reportedly lost control and crashed into the rear of another pickup truck.
The impact threw Abdul Sattar off the vehicle and onto the road, leaving him critically injured. Local residents rushed to his assistance and took him to Gopalganj 250-bed General Hospital. However, the attending doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
The second accident took place near Bijoypasha Bus Stand on the same highway. A speeding lorry struck Obaidur Khandaker, who was walking along the road. He died at the scene from his injuries.
Police were informed shortly after the incident and arrived at the location to recover his body. It was subsequently sent to the hospital morgue for the necessary procedures.
The two fatal incidents within a short period have renewed concerns over road safety on the Dhaka-Khulna Highway, an important transport route connecting the capital with several districts in south-western Bangladesh.
The highway carries a considerable volume of traffic, including passenger buses, goods lorries, pickup trucks and private vehicles. Such mixed traffic makes careful driving, appropriate speed management and greater awareness of pedestrians particularly important.
The circumstances of the two accidents also highlight different road safety risks. In Ghonapara, the reported loss of control of a pickup resulted in a collision involving another vehicle, throwing a passenger onto the road. In Bijoypasha, a pedestrian lost his life after being struck by a speeding lorry.
Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable on busy highways, where high-speed vehicles and limited opportunities for safe crossing can increase the risk of serious accidents. Ensuring responsible driving, maintaining vehicle control and improving pedestrian safety are essential to reducing such incidents.
The deaths of Abdul Sattar Sardar, a veteran of Bangladesh’s Liberation War, and Obaidur Khandaker have cast a shadow of grief over their families and communities.
Police have confirmed the incidents, although further details about the precise causes of the crashes and any subsequent investigative findings were not immediately available.
