Deadly Highway Incident Sparks Bus Arson in Cumilla
A tragic road accident on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila escalated into a fiery act of protest on Thursday afternoon, as a passenger bus was set ablaze by enraged locals. The incident followed the death of a 90-year-old pedestrian who was struck and killed by the speeding vehicle.
The fatal collision took place in the Kabila area, where the bus, identified as belonging to Ekota Paribahan, struck Sirajul Haque while he was attempting to cross the busy highway. Haque, a resident of the Mohichail area in Chandina upazila, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the bus driver, after hitting Haque, attempted to flee the area. However, a swift and determined response from local residents thwarted the driver’s escape. Villagers immediately erected makeshift barricades on the road, successfully intercepting the bus in the Korpai area.
Before the bus was engulfed in flames, passengers onboard were safely evacuated. This measure ensured no further casualties occurred during the ensuing protest.
Emergency services, including personnel from the army, police from the Mainamati Highway Crossing Police Station, and a unit of the Fire Service, were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the blaze, bringing the situation under control.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Mainamati Highway Police Station, Abdul Mumin, confirmed that the bus driver absconded immediately after the accident. The torched bus was subsequently recovered and transported to the police station for further investigation.
The incident highlights the persistent dangers on major roadways and the volatile reactions that can arise when traffic accidents result in fatalities, particularly involving vulnerable pedestrians. Authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision and the subsequent arson.
The Sequence of Events:
- Fatal Collision: A passenger bus, operating under the Ekota Paribahan service, struck and killed pedestrian Sirajul Haque, aged 90, as he was crossing the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in the Kabila area.
- Attempted Escape: The bus driver reportedly attempted to flee the scene of the accident.
- Community Intervention: Local residents swiftly organized and erected barricades, successfully stopping the bus in the Korpai area.
- Passenger Safety: All passengers were safely disembarked from the bus.
- Arson: The bus was then set on fire by the gathered crowd as a form of protest.
- Emergency Response: Army personnel, highway police, and the fire service arrived to manage the situation and extinguish the fire.
- Driver’s Status: The bus driver remains at large, having fled after the incident.
The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway is a critical artery for national transport, but it has also been the site of numerous accidents. Road safety advocates have long called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, improved infrastructure, and greater awareness campaigns to mitigate the risks faced by all road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists who are often disproportionately affected by high-speed traffic. This latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to enhance road safety across the country. The investigation into the accident will likely examine factors such as vehicle speed, driver behavior, and the adequacy of pedestrian crossing facilities in the vicinity of the Kabila area. The recovery of the burned bus is crucial for forensic analysis, which may provide further clues about the events leading up to the tragedy.
