A tragic road accident in Chirirbandar Upazila, Dinajpur, has claimed the life of a young schoolchild and left three others injured. The deceased, Junaid, aged nine, was a first-grade student at the local Molla Golden Hope Pre-Cadet School. The collision involved a bus and a battery-operated van, prompting local residents, teachers, and students to block the Dinajpur–Gobindganj highway in protest.
The accident occurred on Thursday morning, 19 February, around 9:45 a.m., in the Amtali Bazar area of Chirirbandar. According to police and eyewitness accounts, four children were travelling to school in a battery-operated van when a bus, heading towards Dhaka under the name Ahad Enterprise, collided with the van near the school entrance. The impact caused Junaid to be thrown directly onto the road, where he died instantly. The remaining three children and the van driver sustained injuries and were rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Police reported that the bus fled the scene immediately after the collision. Locals noted that the absence of a speed breaker in the area contributed to the accident. Following the crash, angered students and residents staged a sit-in on the road, blocking traffic and leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.
The Officer-in-Charge of Chirirbandar Police Station, Mahmudun Nabi, stated, “Police are actively working to bring the situation under control. The matter has been reported to senior authorities, and legal action will be taken.”
A detailed account of the victims and those injured is provided in the table below:
| Name | Age | Permanent Address | Class | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junaid | 9 | Chirirbandar 13 Mile | First Grade | Deceased |
| Injured Student 1 | 9 | Chirirbandar 13 Mile | First Grade | Admitted to Medical College |
| Injured Student 2 | 8 | Chirirbandar 12 Mile | First Grade | Admitted to Medical College |
| Injured Student 3 | 9 | Chirirbandar 14 Mile | First Grade | Admitted to Medical College |
| Van Driver | 35 | Amtali, Chirirbandar | — | Admitted to Medical College |
Local residents have urged authorities to install speed breakers and enhance road safety measures to prevent similar accidents in the future. Schools and local administration have expressed readiness to implement immediate steps to ensure student safety.
This incident has once again highlighted the pressing issues of road safety in the region, particularly concerning the safe commute of children. Authorities emphasise that protecting schoolchildren during travel hours is now an urgent priority, demanding coordinated action from both educational institutions and civic officials.