School teacher dead as unidentified vehicle hits autorickshaw

A retired schoolteacher was killed and two others, including his wife, were injured after an unidentified vehicle hit an e-rickshaw on the Tetulia-Panchagarh National Highway in Panchagarh Sadar upazila.

The deceased was identified as Hakikul Islam, 65, a resident of Balabari village under Shalbahan Union in Tetulia upazila. He was a former teacher at a local government primary school.

The accident occurred on Saturday (November 14) night in the Board Bazar area of Amar Khana Union, Panchagarh Sadar upazila, on the Panchagarh-Tetulia highway.

The injured were identified as the deceased's wife, Hasna Begum, 50, and e-rickshaw driver Nazrul Islam, 42.

Hasna Begum received medical treatment and returned home, while the e-rickshaw driver remains under treatment at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital.

According to police and local sources, Hakikul had undergone dialysis for a kidney-related condition at a dialysis centre in the Kayetpara area of Panchagarh town. He was returning home with his wife in an e-rickshaw at night.

When they reached the Board Bazar area, an unidentified vehicle travelling from Tetulia towards Panchagarh struck the e-rickshaw, throwing its passengers onto the highway. The impact left the e-rickshaw severely mangled.

With assistance from local residents, Fire Service personnel rescued Hakikul and the injured passengers and rushed them to Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital. However, the on-duty emergency department physician, Dr. Bishwajit Kundu, declared Hakikul dead upon arrival.

Sub-Inspector Saifur Rahman of Tetulia Highway Police Station said police were investigating the details of the accident and trying to identify the vehicle involved.

He added that preparations were underway to file a regular case under the Highway Act in connection with the incident.

-MT