5 killed in Bhanga expressway, including 4 family members

Five people, including four members of the same family, were killed in a road accident on the Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway in Faridpur's Bhanga Upazila early Tuesday.

The accident occurred around 4am in the Maligram area of the expressway when a private car crashed into the rear of a truck loaded with gas cylinders that was reportedly standing on the highway.

The deceased were identified as Arif, 25, Ayesha, 28, Rakib, 18, and their mother Nurjahan Begum, 50, all residents of Baliadanga village in Jhikargachha Upazila of Jashore. The driver of the private car, Jahid, 32, of Gouripur village in Monirampur Upazila, was also killed.

According to local residents and police, the private car was returning from Dhaka after picking up Arif, a migrant worker who had arrived from Malaysia, when it collided with the stationary truck.

The impact left the vehicle mangled. Arif, his mother and his sister died at the scene, while the driver was also killed in the crash.

Rakib later succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

Two children — three-year-old Tasfia and seven-year-old Hossain, the children of Ayesha — were injured in the accident and admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The victims' relative Elias Hossain said Arif had been living in Malaysia for a long time and had returned home on Monday. Family members had travelled to Dhaka airport to receive him.

"Arif's marriage had already been arranged, and the wedding was supposed to take place after he returned home. Instead, the family met with this tragic accident on the way back," he said.

Meanwhile, Mahbubur Rahman, brother of the deceased driver Jahid, said his brother had travelled to Dhaka airport to transport the returning expatriate passenger and that the family learned of his death early in the morning.

Confirming the incident, Md. Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shibchar Highway Police Station, said five people were killed in the crash, including a mother, her daughter, two sons and the driver.

The bodies have been handed over to their relatives, he said, adding that a case has been filed and both the truck and the damaged private car have been seized as part of the investigation.