A devastating road accident in Natore’s Baraigram upazila claimed the lives of eight people, including four members of a single family, on Wednesday morning. The victims were traveling from Dharmadah village in Kushtia’s Daulatpur upazila to Sirajganj to visit an ailing family member when the tragedy occurred.The accident took place around 10:30 AM in the Airmari area on the Bonpara-Hatikumrul highway when a Dhaka-bound microbus collided head-on with a cement-laden truck. The deceased have been identified as Jahidul Islam (55), his wife Selina Khatun (50), his cousin Anowara Khatun (55), and his cousin’s wife Anowara Khatun Anu (50), all from Dharmadah village. Others killed include Iti Khatun (40), wife of Rafez Chowdhury from the nearby Pragpur village; Anjumanara (75), wife of Mohammad Ali from Betbaria village in Meherpur’s Gangni upazila; Seema Khatun (35), Jahidul’s sister-in-law; and the microbus driver Shahabuddin (42).
According to family sources, Jahidul Islam’s son, Sohanur, a migrant worker in Kuwait, had informed his family about his wife’s illness in Sirajganj. Jahidul, along with his relatives, was en route to visit her when the accident occurred. Upon hearing the tragic news, Sohanur returned to Bangladesh. Similarly, Anowara Khatun’s son, Sweet Rana, who also resides abroad, came back to the country. The bodies of the four family members from Dharmadah were laid to rest together in their village after their return.
Daulatpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Solaiman Sheikh confirmed that the funerals of all eight victims have been completed in their respective villages.
Daulatpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Hai Siddiquee, who attended the funeral prayers for the four victims from Dharmadah, said, “I visited Dharmadah and participated in the janaza. A pall of grief has descended over the area. This is a heart-wrenching tragedy, and I am at a loss for words to console the families.”
The accident has left the local community in shock, with authorities reporting that the truck driver fled the scene, though the vehicle was seized. A case has been filed with Baraigram Police Station, and investigations are ongoing.
