Expat-turned transport worker loses life under car

Allegedly chased by a mobile court team amid the government-imposed restrictions on movement, an expatriate-turned transport worker was crushed under the wheels of a car on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi on Friday night.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Latif (55) from Senbhag in Noakhali, said Lutfar Rahman, in-charge at Shibpur outpost of Paba highway police.

Latif, who was an expatriate in Italy earlier, used to work as a helper in a covered-van, he said.

Latif was going to Rajshahi in a fruits-laden covered-van, said the police officer. When the vehicle pulled over near a filling station at Baneswar Bazar around 8:30pm, Latif went out to a tea stall on the spot, he added.

Police and eyewitnesses said, at that time, a mobile court, led by the upazila nirbahi officer, was raiding the spot to enforce "lockdown" restrictions.

When the team chased those who were at the tea stall, Latif ran away to the highway, said witnesses and the covered van driver Mohammad Yusuf yesterday.

Later, a private car belongs to Mizanur Rahman, former mayor of Tanore and member of the district unit of BNP, hit Latif confirmedthe police officer, Lutfar Rahman.

Puthia UNO Nurul High Mohammad told The Daily Star, "I was half kilometre off the spot during the incident. I didn't even get off my vehicle. None of the team chased anyone. Through loudspeaker, we asked all to go home." 

Latif died on the way to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital around 9:30pm, said the police officer Lutfar Rahman.

In Jashore, a mother and her son were killed as a speeding truck ran them over on Jashore-Benapole highway in Navaran area on Friday night.

Three motorcyclists were also injured when the truck hit them in front of Navaran Ansar Camp. Locals took the injured to Jashore General Hospital, hospital sources said.

The deceased were identified as Safura Begum (60) and her son Shafiqul Islam (40) from Shalkona village in Sharsha upazila.

Navaran Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asaduzzaman said the truck was seized and its driver was detained.

In Joypurhat, two bikers were killed when a tractor hit their vehicle in Khetlal upazila yesterday.

Roni Hossain (28) and Limon Hossain (25) from Bhatara village in Dupchachia upazila, Bogura died on the spot, said Khetlal Police Station OC Nirendranath Mondal.

In Natore, a truck hit a motorbike on Natore-Bogura highway in Singra upazila yesterday, killing two bike riders and injuring another.

The deceased were identified as Khalilur Rahman, founder of Tebaria Halimatus Sadia Madrasa; and Md Belal Hossain, one of its teachers, said police.

Singra Police Station OC Nur-e-Alom said the injured -- Abdul Hamid -- was admitted to Singra Upazila Health Complex.

[Our local correspondents concerned contributed to the reports]