A tea vendor and the sole breadwinner for his family has died after being struck by a speeding minibus whilst attempting to cross the Shariatpur–Madaripur regional highway in the Dhanuka area of Shariatpur town.

The victim, 45-year-old Ratan Poddar, was a resident of the Dakshin Madhyapara area in Ward 7 of Shariatpur Municipality. He was the son of the late Yugal Bala Poddar, a recognized Freedom Fighter (Bir Muktijoddha). Poddar operated a small tea shop in front of his home to support his family, which was already coping with recent heartbreak. Local neighbours revealed that Poddar’s wife had passed away from cardiac arrest merely a month prior, leaving him grieving while struggling to raise their two young children alone.

According to statements from the Palang Model Police Station and eyewitnesses, Poddar had travelled to Dhanuka on Wednesday evening for personal errands. While attempting to cross the busy arterial road, he raised both hands to signal oncoming traffic to slow down. Video footage of the incident—a 17-second clip that subsequently circulated on social media platforms—shows several vehicles coming to a halt in response to his gesture. However, a minibus operated by the Shariatpur Inter-District Bus Owners’ Association failed to stop, striking him at speed and throwing him several metres across the asphalt.

Local residents rushed to Poddar’s aid and transported him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital. Attending medical staff administered emergency care for severe head and bodily trauma before referring him to a specialized facility in Dhaka for advanced treatment. Tragically, Poddar succumbed to his injuries at approximately 9:00 pm whilst en route to the capital.

Following the collision, the minibus sped away from the scene without stopping. Onlookers pursued the fleeing vehicle, eventually apprehending the driver and handing him over to law enforcement officers alongside the impounded bus. Shah Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Palang Model Police Station, confirmed that the driver remains in custody and that formal legal proceedings have commenced.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding driver accountability, reckless speeding, and the lack of safe pedestrian crossings on regional highways, leaving a community in mourning and two young children facing an uncertain future.