Truck Strike Kills Elderly Pedestrian in Shailkupa

A 75-year-old pedestrian was killed after a truck reportedly lost control and ran him over in Jhenaidah’s Shailkupa upazila on Wednesday morning.

The accident occurred in the Chandipur area on the Jhenaidah-Kushtia highway, near Hannan Filling Station and in front of an office of a non-governmental organisation. The deceased was identified as Tarif Uddin Mondal, son of the late Intaz Mondal of Chandipur village.

According to local residents, Tarif Uddin had gone out for his regular morning walk after performing the Fajr prayer, as he did almost every day. He was walking along the roadside and had reached the vicinity of Hannan Filling Station when a truck travelling towards Kushtia from the direction of Jhenaidah reportedly lost control and struck him.

The impact left the elderly man critically injured, and he died at the scene, according to witnesses and local residents. The truck allegedly fled the area shortly after the collision, leaving residents alarmed and prompting efforts to locate the vehicle and its driver.

After receiving information about the accident, members of the Shailkupa Fire Service and Civil Defence station arrived at the scene and recovered the body. The incident caused concern in the area, particularly among residents who regularly use the highway and its adjoining roadside spaces for walking and other daily activities.

The accident has once again raised concerns over pedestrian safety on major highways, particularly during the early morning hours. Local residents said vehicles often travel at considerable speeds at that time of day, increasing the danger for pedestrians walking along roadsides. They have called for stronger measures to regulate vehicle speeds and improve safety for people who use the highway’s edges for routine movement.

The authorities are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Jahangir Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Jhenaidah Arappur Highway Police Station, said the body was recovered and sent to the morgue of Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination. A case has been filed in connection with the accident, he said.

Police are taking legal steps to identify the truck involved and bring its driver under the law. Investigators are also working to establish the precise cause of the accident and trace the vehicle’s movements before and after the collision.

Following the post-mortem examination, the body is expected to be handed over to the deceased’s family in accordance with the relevant procedures.

Tarif Uddin’s sudden death has cast a pall of grief over Chandipur. The elderly man had left home for what appeared to be an ordinary morning walk but never returned. The incident has renewed calls for greater caution among drivers, stricter speed control on highways and safer conditions for pedestrians travelling alongside busy roads.