A twenty-eight-year-old battery-powered auto-rickshaw driver, Md Borhan Uddin, known locally as Ripon, lost his life after suffering a fatal electric shock whilst charging his vehicle in Noakhali Sadar Upazila. The incident took place at around 8:00 pm on Monday in the eastern village of Char Uria, situated within the Noakhali Union.

Ripon, the son of Md Milon and a resident of the same village, had earned his livelihood for several years by operating an auto-rickshaw across local routes. According to police reports and witnesses, he returned to Horon Miah’s rickshaw garage on Monday evening following a full day on the road. Whilst attempting to plug his vehicle into the electrical mains to recharge its batteries, he accidentally came into direct contact with a live circuit.

The electrical current caused severe, immediate injury, rendering him unconscious on the spot. Mechanics working nearby and neighboring residents rushed to his assistance, freeing him from the electrical outlet and transporting him to the 250-Bed General Hospital in Noakhali. Upon arrival, the attending medical officer performed an evaluation and pronounced him dead.

News of the death brought profound grief to the victim’s family, who rushed to the hospital after being informed of the casualty. The sudden loss deprives the household of its primary breadwinner.

Sub-Inspector Kucharuzzaman, in charge of the Sonapur Police Outpost, confirmed that officers attended the scene shortly after receiving notification of the accident. Police prepared a formal inquest report regarding the body and registered an unnatural death case at the station. Because the victim’s family raised no allegations of foul play, authorities formally released the body to his relatives for burial following the completion of legal procedures.

Although the precise technical failure responsible for the shock was not specified in initial police statements, battery-powered auto-rickshaw operations across Bangladesh carry inherent electrical hazards. Daily charging routines often rely on high-voltage connections, improvised chargers, and compromised wiring setups. In informal or open-air garages, damp floors and exposed leads significantly compound the risk of fatal shocks. Without regular inspection, proper grounding, and basic circuit protection, simple routine maintenance can quickly turn lethal for operators across rural and semi-urban transit hubs.