A lorry driver miraculously survived a severe night-time collision on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway after becoming trapped inside the crushed cab of his vehicle for twenty minutes.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:00 am in the Kamarkhola area of Sreenagar Upazila, along the Dhaka-bound carriageway of the expressway. The driver, identified as 55-year-old Azgar Khondokar from Kashiani Upazila in Gopalganj, was transporting liquefied petroleum gas cylinders from the coastal port of Mongla towards the capital. His vehicle lost control and struck the rear of a covered van travelling ahead, which had originated from Magura.
The violence of the crash heavily crumpled the front end of the cylinder-laden lorry, pinning Mr Khondokar inside the wreckage. His chest was tightly compressed against the steering wheel, rendering him critically injured and unable to free himself.
Upon receiving emergency calls, two response units from the Sreenagar Fire Station reached the scene to conduct a delicate extraction. Standard rescue techniques proved ineffective due to the extensive structural collapse of the cab. Firefighters deployed specialized hydraulic cutting apparatus to sheer away the mangled steel, carefully freeing the trapped driver after twenty minutes of intensive effort. Immediately following his release, emergency crews transported Mr Khondokar to the Sreenagar Upazila Health Complex for urgent medical treatment.
Fire service officials emphasized that the crash carried significant collateral hazards due to the highly combustible cargo. Had the lorry overturned or suffered structural breaches during the collision, the gas cylinders could have triggered a catastrophic explosion. Prompt intervention by first responders neutralized the immediate risk while safely extracting the motorist.
Muhammad Safiqul Islam, Deputy Assistant Director of the Munshiganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed the details of the rescue operation, commending the swift response of the attending crews.
The Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, officially named the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Expressway, remains one of the country’s paramount high-speed transit arteries, connecting southwestern districts to Dhaka via the Padma Bridge. Despite modern infrastructure and safety barriers, high-speed night journeys along this corridor frequently pose risks associated with driver fatigue, sudden braking, and tailgating, prompting continuous oversight from highway authorities.
