Jhalokathi villages in mourning now as burial of 14 killed in truck accident completes

The villages of Jhalokathi are now in mourning after completing the burial of 14 people, including five of the same family, who were tragically killed in a truck accident at the Gabkhan toll house in the district.

The funeral of five people of the same family, hailed from North Southpur village under Rajapur upazila in the district, who were in a private car, has been completed. Mourning is going on in Rajapur upazila over their death. Relatives broke down in tears when the bodies of the deceased were brought to North Southpur village on Wednesday night. The old mother who lost her son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren was losing consciousness again and again being unable to bear the pain.

Since morning, relatives and villagers from far away places came to see the body of the deceased for the last time. The bodies were buried on Thursday morning in the family cemetery.

Earlier on Wednesday (April 17), a private car was paying the toll at the toll plaza of Gabkhan Bridge in Jhalokathi on the Barishal-Khulna highway. At that time, a cement-laden truck heading towards Jhalokathi lost control and rammed three battery-powered easy-bikes and the private car. The three easy-bikes and the private car were twisted in the blink of an eye, killing 14 people in an instant.

Seven passengers including the driver of that private car were killed. The deceased are Hasibur Rahman (33) of North Southpur village of Rajapur upazila, his wife Nahida Akhtar Sonia (28), their daughters Takia Akhtar (3), Tahmid Rahman (1), Sonia's newly married sister Nipa Akhtar (22) of Sadar area of the upazila, her Husband Air Force member Imran Hossain (23) and private driver Ibrahim (35) of North Uttampur village.

They were going to Barishal by private car and from there they intended to travel to Kuakata.
The old mother of private car driver Ibrahim regretted that her son prayed five times a day, and was very aware of his mother's care. “Now, who will take care of me? Who will look after his two children?” she said bursting into tears.

The burial of four members of the same family was completed in North Southpur village around 10:00am on Thursday. On the other hand, private car driver Ibrahim and Nipa's janaza was held at their house at 9:00am. Their death has cast a shadow of mourning on Rajapur upazila. Thousands of people attended their funeral prayers.

The relatives of the deceased and the residents of the area demanded that the toll booth of Gabkhan Bridge toll plaza should be moved away or the toll booth should be closed. They also demanded that people involved in this accident should be brought to book.

Jhalokathi Superintendent of Police Afruzul Haque Tutul said, “The burial of all the victims has been completed. Within four hours of the accident, we were able to arrest the truck driver Al Amin and helper Nazmul. Legal action will be taken in this regard.”

Jhalokathi Deputy Commissioner Farah Gul Nijhum said, “A 4-member investigation committee headed by Jhalokathi Additional Deputy Commissioner Sazia Afroz has been formed to investigate the accident. The committee has been asked to submit the report within the next five days.”