A firefighter was killed while responding to an emergency in Sherpur upazila of Bogra district late on Saturday night, in what authorities have described as a tragic chain-reaction collision. Five other people were injured in separate road accidents in the same area earlier that evening.
The deceased, Ahsan Habib, 46, was a serving firefighter stationed at the Sherpur Fire Service. The fatal incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. in the Mahipur area, directly in front of the local fire station in Sherpur.
According to Fire Service officials, news had reached the station of a road accident in the Chandaikona area, prompting an immediate rescue response. As part of the emergency deployment procedure, Mr Habib was managing traffic outside the station to allow the fire engine to exit safely onto the highway. After successfully halting a truck to clear the way, a passenger bus approaching from behind failed to stop in time and collided forcefully with the stationary lorry. The impact propelled the truck forward, crushing Mr Habib beneath it. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rais Uddin, in charge of the Sherpur Highway Police Camp, confirmed that both the bus and the truck involved in the collision had been seized. Legal proceedings are under way, and the drivers are expected to face investigation for possible negligence. Following the completion of formalities, including a post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to the family.
Colleagues described Mr Habib as a dedicated and courageous officer who had served the Fire Service for many years. His death has cast a pall over the department and the local community, raising renewed concerns about the risks faced by first responders operating on busy highways at night.
Earlier that same evening, at around 9:00 p.m., four individuals were injured in a three-vehicle collision at the Ten Mile intersection in the Garidaha area of Sherpur. Among them, 28-year-old Najmul Haque Shuvo sustained critical injuries and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Shikder Medical College Hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment.
In a separate incident in Hamchayapur, 39-year-old Khadija Khatun was seriously injured while attempting to cross the road. She was struck by a private car and subsequently admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra.
Sub-Inspector Mortaza Nur of the Highway Police stated that all vehicles involved in the respective accidents had been impounded and that efforts were ongoing to ensure normal traffic flow along the affected stretches of road. Preliminary assessments suggest that excessive speed and a lack of due caution may have contributed to the collisions.
A summary of the incidents is provided below:
| Time | Location | Nature of Incident | Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:00 a.m. | Mahipur, Sherpur | Bus–truck collision during rescue | 1 firefighter killed |
| 9:00 p.m. | Ten Mile, Garidaha | Three-vehicle collision | 4 injured (1 critical) |
| Late night | Hamchayapur | Pedestrian struck by private car | 1 seriously injured |
Local residents have long expressed concern about heavy vehicles travelling at high speed during late-night hours. Safety experts note that improved traffic enforcement, better roadside lighting, and stricter adherence to speed regulations are essential to preventing similar tragedies in the future.