A five-year-old girl was killed after being struck by an auto-rickshaw while attempting to cross a road in Purbadhala upazila of Netrokona, in a tragic accident that has left her family and the local community devastated.
The incident took place at around 12:30 pm on Saturday (1 August) in the Nayapara area along Thana Road in the upazila headquarters. The victim was identified as Maria Akter Priti, daughter of Abul Kalam from Pukuriakanda village in Purbadhala upazila.
According to local residents, Maria had accompanied her father to a shop in the Nayapara area. At one stage, her father left the child on the southern side of the road while he crossed to another shop on the opposite side. Moments later, the young girl reportedly attempted to run across the road towards him.
As she crossed, an approaching auto-rickshaw struck her, causing severe injuries. Witnesses rushed to the scene immediately after the collision and, together with family members, rescued the child and transported her to Purbadhala Upazila Health Complex without delay.
Despite the efforts to save her, the attending physician at the hospital declared Maria dead shortly after her arrival.
The sudden loss of the five-year-old has cast a shadow of grief over her family and neighbours. Local residents described the incident as heartbreaking, saying that what had begun as a routine trip to the market ended in an unimaginable tragedy within moments.
Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun of Purbadhala Police Station confirmed the incident and said that no formal complaint had been filed by the victim’s family at the time of reporting. He added that the authorities would complete the necessary legal procedures before handing over the child’s body to her relatives.
The police have not disclosed any further details regarding the auto-rickshaw driver or whether the vehicle was taken into custody. The matter is being handled in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.
The accident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of young children on busy roads, particularly in commercial areas where both pedestrian and vehicle movement remain high. Road safety specialists have long stressed that children require close supervision near traffic, as they often struggle to judge the speed and distance of approaching vehicles.
The tragedy also serves as a reminder of the importance of cautious driving in populated areas. Drivers are expected to reduce speed and remain alert in places where pedestrians, especially children, are likely to be present. At the same time, parents and guardians are encouraged to exercise extra vigilance when accompanying young children near roads.
As the family prepares to lay the child to rest, the incident stands as another painful example of how a brief moment can lead to an irreversible loss, reinforcing the need for greater awareness and responsibility from both motorists and pedestrians.
