Reckless Driving Leaves Two Dead on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway

A double tragedy struck the Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram on Sunday morning, leaving two individuals dead and six others hospitalised following two separate road traffic accidents within the space of half an hour. The incidents occurred on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, a vital economic artery that continues to be plagued by speeding vehicles and inadequate traffic law enforcement.

Overturned Bus Traps Passengers in Mangled Wreckage

The initial accident took place at roughly 7:30 am near the Iliyas Petrol Pump area in the Kumira union. A passenger transport bus, operated by the ‘Jonaki Paribahan’ company, was en route from Chattogram city to the neighbouring district of Noakhali. Local witnesses reported that the vehicle was being driven at a highly reckless speed on the Dhaka-bound lane when the driver suddenly lost control. The bus veered violently off course, rammed into the concrete central highway divider, and flipped completely onto its side.

A 30-year-old passenger identified simply as Prakash suffered catastrophic trauma and died as a result of the impact. The sudden crash caused panic inside the vehicle as the roof and engine block buckled, trapping multiple commuters within the debris.

Emergency response teams from the Kumira Fire Service and Civil Defence arrived swiftly at the scene to initiate extraction protocols. They managed to pull six severely injured passengers from the wreckage, all of whom were rushed immediately to the Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for urgent medical intervention.

The casualties admitted to the hospital include:

• Rawshan Akhter (38)

• Mohiuddin (33), her younger brother

• Mohammad Mannan (30)

• Sonia Akhter (25), wife of Mohammad Mannan

• Arpita Saha (20)

• Arif Mohammad Yusuf (51)

Among those receiving emergency treatment is university graduate Arpita Saha, who was travelling to Noakhali that morning to sit a crucial employment recruitment examination. Her father, Basudeb Saha, later informed journalists that his daughter had suffered deep lacerations and severe bone trauma to both her arms and legs. Sub-Inspector Milton Mondal of the Barwalia Highway Police confirmed that officers assisted in clearing the arterial road to prevent secondary collisions, adding that hospital authorities confirmed the death of Prakash shortly after arrival.

Fatal Hit-and-Run Near Cement Plant

As emergency crews were managing the aftermath of the bus crash, a second, unrelated fatality occurred at approximately 8:00 am just a short distance away. A 20-year-old pedestrian, identified as Mohammad Imon, was walking along the highway near the Royal Cement Gate area in the Kumira union.

As Imon walked down the Chittagong-bound side of the road, an unidentified speeding vehicle struck him violently from behind. The impact killed the young man instantly. Sergeant Shamim Alam of the Barwalia Highway Police Station confirmed that the vehicle fled the scene immediately without stopping to render aid. Police have launched an investigation to track down the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run.

Highway Safety Analysis: The Dhaka-Chittagong grand trunk route serves as the primary corridor for Bangladesh’s international trade, carrying heavy commercial freight from the country’s main seaport alongside thousands of daily passenger coaches. Despite substantial infrastructure investments to expand the route into a four-lane highway, transport analysts point out that the absence of automated speed traps, rampant lane indiscipline, and the widespread practice of drivers working excessively long shifts continue to make the highway incredibly hazardous, particularly during the early morning hours when visibility transitions and driver fatigue peaks.