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 Fulbari, Dinajpur, on Tuesday morning.
The victim, Shipa Moni, was struck in the Basstand-Bottoli area of Fulbari municipal town at around 7.45am. Her death prompted angry local residents to block the Dinajpur-Dhaka regional highway for about an hour, disrupting traffic on one of the area’s main road routes.
Shipa was the daughter of Istamul Haque, from North Sujapur village in Fulbari municipality. She was a third-grade pupil 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 accompanying her mother on their way to school when the accident occurred. The pair were crossing the road near the Basstand-Bottoli area when a passenger bus travelling from Dinajpur towards Birampur struck the child.
The bus, identified by registration number Shahi Dhaka Metro-B-12-3315, allegedly left the scene shortly after the collision.
Local people rescued Shipa in a critical condition and took her to Fulbari Upazila Health Complex. Doctors on duty examined her there and declared her dead.
News of the child’s death quickly spread in the area, prompting residents to gather outside the health complex. From around 9am to 10am, protesters blocked the Dinajpur-Dhaka regional highway, demanding action over the fatal crash and accountability for those responsible.
The road blockade caused significant disruption. Hundreds of vehicles became stranded on both sides of the highway, affecting passengers and motorists using the route. Traffic remained halted until local authorities intervened.
At around 10am, Fulbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Hasan arrived at the scene and spoke to the protesters. He assured them that the authorities would take the necessary measures regarding the incident. Following the assurance, residents withdrew the blockade and traffic gradually resumed.
The accident has also drawn attention to the risks faced by children and other pedestrians while crossing busy roads, particularly around transport hubs where passenger buses and other vehicles operate frequently. In this case, Shipa was on her way to school with her mother when the collision occurred.
Ferdous Alam, investigation officer at Fulbari Police Station, said the bus involved in the accident had been seized and taken to the police station. However, the driver and his assistant fled after the crash.
Police completed the inquest formalities before handing Shipa’s body over to her family. Legal proceedings in connection with the accident are under way.
Authorities are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision as part of the investigation, including the events immediately before the child was struck and the responsibility of those involved.
