At least three people, including a child, were killed when a battery-powered auto-rickshaw collided with a truck in Gaibandha’s Gobindaganj area. Several others, including the child’s parents and the driver, were seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
The accident occurred around 2 pm on Tuesday (August 12) near the Moushumi filling station on the Gobindaganj-Dinajpur regional highway at Khalsi.
The deceased have been identified as Rafi, a 19-day-old infant from Daridah village in Bogura’s Shibganj Upazila; Zahidul Islam (55), son of the late Siraj Mondol from Piarapur village, Sakhahar Union of Gobindaganj; and Nurunnobi Sarkar (50), son of Abdul Gani from Chaprapara village, Rajahar Union. Nurunnobi, who worked as a muhurir (clerical worker), died on the way to the hospital after the crash.
According to police and local sources, the auto-rickshaw was carrying 10 passengers, including the infant, heading towards Gobindaganj when the rear left wheel suddenly came off. The driver lost control, and a truck approaching from behind struck the auto-rickshaw, causing it to break apart. Rafi and Zahidul Islam died instantly at the scene.
The seriously injured include auto-rickshaw driver Sojib Mia, Rupali Begum, and Zakia Begum. Doctors report their condition as critical.
Confirming the accident, Gobindaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Bulbul Islam said, “The accident happened due to the sudden detachment of the auto-rickshaw’s wheel. Two died at the scene, and later we received news of another death. The injured are receiving treatment, and we are investigating whether the death toll has increased.”
