Child dies while collecting election leaflets

A 5-year-old boy, Arafat Hossain, died after being hit by a battery-operated auto-van while collecting election leaflets in Chatmohar of Pabna.

The accident occurred in Barkona village of Parshwadanga Union on Thursday. Arafat was the son of Rafiqul Islam from Gajarmara village in Bhanga. He had come a few days earlier to visit his maternal grandfather, Alef Hossain.

According to family and local sources, a battery-operated auto-van was being used for election campaigning on behalf of a candidate on Thursday afternoon. Arafat went onto the road to collect leaflets thrown from the vehicle when he was hit by another battery-operated auto-van coming from the opposite direction.

He suffered severe injuries to his head, face, and other parts of the body. He was rushed to Chatmohar Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

OC Golam Sarwar Hossain of Chatmohar police station confirmed the incident.