4 die as covered van hits autorickshaw in Gazipur

Four passengers on a CNG-powered autorickshaw, including three members of a family, have died after their vehicle was hit by a covered van in Gazipur.

The accident occurred around Friday afternoon on the Kaliakoir-Mawna regional road near Borochala, according to Kaliakoir Police Station chief (OC) Abdul Mannan.

The dead have been identified as Zahidul Islam, 35, his wife Nasrin Nahar, 30, their 12-year-old son Huraira, listed under a single name and Shafiqul Islam, 55.

Citing witnesses, OC Mannan said the covered van was headed towards Mawna in Gazipur’s Sreepur Upazila when it struck an autorickshaw approaching from the opposite direction.

According to him, Zahidul and Shafiqul died on the spot, while three other passengers were critically injured.

Local residents rushed the injured to the Kaliakoir Upazila Health Complex, where Zahidul’s wife and son later died.

“The Kaliakoir-Mawna road has several dangerous bends where accidents happen frequently,” said Kamal Hossain, a resident of the area.

“At least 10 people have died on this road over the past few months.”

Sub-Inspector Mohammad Suruj Uz Zaman of the Fulbaria Police Camp in Kaliakoir said the covered van has been seized following the accident, and legal steps are under way.