Two Killed in Separate Ullapara Road Accidents

Two people have lost their lives in separate road accidents in Ullapara Upazila of Sirajganj, highlighting once again the continuing concern over highway safety in Bangladesh.

The first accident took place at around 12:00 noon on Thursday (6 August) in the Ramar Char area along the Dhaka–Rajshahi Highway. According to local authorities, a battery-powered auto-rickshaw collided with a passenger bus, leaving the auto-rickshaw driver, Aftab Ali, 40, dead at the scene.

Aftab Ali, a resident of Diyarpara village in Ullapara Upazila, was reportedly driving the auto-rickshaw when the collision occurred. Following the impact, the passenger coach, identified as National Travels, allegedly ran over the victim before leaving the scene without stopping. The circumstances leading to the collision have not yet been officially disclosed, and investigators are working to determine the exact sequence of events.

Just an hour later, at approximately 1:00 pm, another fatal accident occurred near the Hatikumrul Interchange, one of the country’s busiest highway junctions connecting several major routes in northern Bangladesh. Police said an unidentified elderly man, believed to be between 60 and 62 years of age, was attempting to cross the Bogura-bound road when he was struck by a speeding vehicle.

The impact proved fatal, and the man died instantly at the scene. Witnesses reported that the vehicle involved did not stop after the collision and fled immediately, prompting a police search for the driver.

The identity of the deceased pedestrian has yet to be established. Authorities are attempting to trace his family or anyone who may recognise him, while legal procedures relating to the incident are underway.

Officer-in-Charge Md Ismail Hossain of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station confirmed both incidents. He said police have launched operations to identify and apprehend the drivers of the two vehicles involved in the fatal crashes. Investigators are also collecting evidence from the accident sites and reviewing available information to assist the investigation.

The back-to-back fatalities serve as another reminder of the risks faced by both motorists and pedestrians on Bangladesh’s busy highways. Road safety experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of responsible driving, adherence to speed limits, and greater caution at highway crossings, particularly in high-traffic areas such as Hatikumrul Interchange, where vehicles from multiple national routes converge throughout the day.

Police said further legal action will be taken once the vehicles and their drivers are identified, while efforts continue to establish the identity of the deceased elderly victim.