A tragic traffic collision in Natore’s Lalpur upazila claimed the life of an autorickshaw driver on Monday afternoon. The fatal incident occurred at approximately 12:00 pm along the Bagha-Lalpur highway within the Berilabari mouza of Durdaria union, against the backdrop of inclement weather.
The victim has been identified as thirty-five-year-old Md Shahjahan, son of Md Sajdar from the Gourangapur area of Rajshahi’s neighbouring Bagha upazila.
According to local accounts and police details, steady rain was falling across the region at the time of the accident. Shahjahan had pulled his battery-run autorickshaw to the side of the highway, carrying passengers. While standing on the right-hand side of his stationary vehicle to adjust protective weather curtains, disaster struck.
A fast-moving, shallow-engine-powered local transport vehicle—commonly known as a steering car—approached from the Lalpur direction heading towards Bagha. Operating at an excessive speed despite slick road conditions, the vehicle lost control and slammed directly into Shahjahan. The sheer force of the impact hurled him onto the asphalt. Tragically, a metal rod protruding from the steering car inflicted a severe laceration to his forehead, causing massive trauma that resulted in his death at the scene.
The sudden crash and subsequent cries from the panicked passengers inside the autorickshaw drew immediate attention. Residents from nearby areas rushed to the highway, managing to intercept the offending vehicle and apprehend its twenty-four-year-old driver, Md Sabuj. Tensions flared briefly at the scene, and enraged bystanders subjected the driver to physical beatings, leaving him injured.
Emergency calls prompted Sub-Inspector Monir Hossain and a contingent of officers from Lalpur Police Station to arrive promptly. Police intervened to secure the injured driver under their protection and completed the mandatory inquest report on the victim’s body. While the wrecked autorickshaw was later collected and taken away by grieving relatives, the steering car was seized and impounded by law enforcement.
Officer-in-Charge Shafikul Islam of Lalpur Police Station confirmed that preliminary findings point towards reckless and excessive speed as the primary cause of the tragedy. The detained driver is currently facing formal legal proceedings.
This distressing incident underscores the persistent dangers associated with high-speed, unregulated shallow-engine vehicles operating on regional highways. Driving at excessive speeds during heavy rain significantly elevates the risk of vehicles hydroplaning or losing traction, posing severe hazards to vulnerable drivers and commuters sharing the tarmac.
