Family Tragedy on Expressway

A devastating road accident on the Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway has claimed the lives of five people, including four members of the same family, while leaving two others injured. The tragic crash occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday near the Maligram Flyover in Bhanga Upazila of Faridpur District, when a private car collided with the rear of a truck carrying gas cylinders.

According to officials from the Fire Service, Highway Police and local sources, the private vehicle was travelling from Dhaka to Jashore at considerable speed. As it approached the Maligram Flyover during the early hours of the morning, it struck a stationary gas-cylinder-laden truck that was reportedly standing in the same lane of the expressway. The force of the impact was so severe that the front section of the car was almost completely crushed, trapping the occupants inside.

Authorities said the family had travelled to Dhaka to receive Ariful Islam, a Malaysian expatriate who had recently returned to Bangladesh after spending an extended period abroad. After collecting him from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, relatives began the journey back to their home in Jashore. Tragically, the collision occurred before they could reach their destination.

Four people, including Ariful Islam, his mother Nur Jahan and his sister Ayesha Begum, died at the scene. Another critically injured victim, Ariful’s brother Rakibul Islam, was initially rescued and taken for treatment but later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. The driver of the private car, Zahid Sheikh, also lost his life in the crash.

The victims were residents of Baliadangi village in Jhikargachha Upazila of Jashore, with the exception of the driver, who hailed from Gouripur village in Monirampur Upazila.

Members of the Bhanga Fire Service said rescue teams responded immediately after receiving reports of the accident. The injured were first transported to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex before being referred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital due to the seriousness of their conditions. One of the victims later died while undergoing treatment.

Officials from the Shibchar Highway Police Station confirmed that, apart from the driver, all of the deceased belonged to the same family. The damaged vehicle has been recovered, and an investigation is underway to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the collision, including why the truck was stationary in the traffic lane.

Road safety experts have repeatedly warned that stationary vehicles on high-speed roads and expressways pose a significant danger to motorists. The risks become even greater during pre-dawn hours when visibility is reduced and drivers may be fatigued after long journeys. Specialists stress that disabled or parked vehicles on expressways should be equipped with warning lights, reflective markers and other emergency safety measures to alert approaching traffic.

The accident has once again highlighted concerns regarding highway safety, traffic management and emergency response procedures on Bangladesh’s expanding expressway network. Beyond the statistics, however, the incident represents an immeasurable personal loss. The deaths of four members of a single family in one accident have cast a shadow of grief over their community in Jashore, where relatives and neighbours are mourning a tragedy that unfolded just hours after what should have been a joyful family reunion.