Sumon's tragedy, Noor Alam's grief for his son

“When I enter the house, I look for my son, my wife. Even my innocent eldest daughter searches for her mother and brother, but no one responds. Every second in this house without them feels like unbearable agony,” says Mohammad Sumon, his eyes welling up with tears.

On December 27 last year, a devastating accident on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway robbed Sumon, a man in his forties, of his wife and only son, leaving behind nothing but emptiness.

On that fateful day, a reckless passenger bus struck Sumon’s motorcycle from behind, killing his six-year-and-eight-month-old son, Nehal Islam Abdullah, instantly. His wife, Reshma Begum, succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Among the six fatalities in the accident were also four members of another family traveling in a private car: elderly Amena Akhter, her daughters Israt Jahan Imu and Riha, and her three-year-old grandson Ayaz.

“How will I run this household now that my loved ones are gone? How will we survive in this empty house, where even the remaining belongings feel lifeless?” Sumon laments.

Sumon, a motorcycle ride-share driver, recounts how he was on his way to his sister-in-law's wedding in Madaripur with his wife and son on his motorcycle. Around 11 AM, while waiting to pay the toll at the Dhaleshwari Toll Plaza, the speeding bus rammed into them. His son Abdullah died on the spot, crushed under the bus wheels. His wife Reshma, critically injured, passed away in the hospital. Sumon, also injured, recovered after treatment and now lives in an empty home with his daughter.

In addition to his ride-sharing job, Sumon had set up a tea stall in Moghbazar to support his two children’s education. He had enrolled his playful, energetic son in a madrasa last year, dreaming of seeing him grow into an educated scholar who could ease the family's struggles.

“Abdullah was so lively and full of energy. He used to turn the house upside down with his antics. After a long day at work, just seeing my children would wash away my fatigue. They were the center of all our dreams. But now those dreams are shattered, gone along with my wife and son,” says Sumon.

“If I could, I would have given my life to save them. Watching them die in front of me is a pain I can’t bear,” he adds.

The fire service and highway police reported that the bus, traveling at high speed toward Kuakata, lost control and rammed into the waiting vehicles at the toll plaza. It crushed a private car, a motorcycle, and a microbus, killing six people and injuring four others.

One of the survivors, Noor Alam, an agency businessman, was traveling in his private car with family members to attend a prayer gathering in Gopalganj, four days after a relative’s death. They were waiting to pay the toll when the speeding bus struck. Alam’s three-year-old son Ayaz, who was sitting on his lap, was flung from his arms and killed instantly. His mother-in-law, Amena Akhter, and his two sisters-in-law, Imu and Riha, also died on the spot.

Though Noor Alam survived, he sustained injuries along with his wife Anamika, younger sister, and the driver. His wife and younger sister remain hospitalized in critical condition.

“The little boy was sitting on my chest. We were waiting to pay the toll. Suddenly, with no horn, no warning, the bus crushed everything. In a blink of an eye, my son was gone from my arms. My mother-in-law and sisters-in-law were gone too,” says Noor Alam, breaking down in tears.

“I can’t live without my son. How will I survive? This pain is unbearable. My innocent family did nothing wrong. Why were they killed so brutally? I demand justice!” he cries out.

Noor Alam blames the state for the negligence that caused the accident. “Why weren’t there any speed breakers? Why were unlicensed drivers and unfit vehicles allowed on the roads?” he asks, calling for the bus driver and all responsible parties to be held accountable and punished with the death penalty.

The tragedy has shaken the nation, prompting concerns about road safety and systemic failures. According to the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, 72 accidents occurred on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway in the past year, claiming 51 lives. Nationwide, 8,543 people lost their lives in road accidents in 2024, an increase of 7.5% compared to the previous year. Injuries rose by 17.73%.

The nation mourns yet another devastating loss while questioning how long reckless driving, driver negligence, owner irresponsibility, and mismanagement will continue to claim lives on its roads.