Man killed in Rajshahi road crash; two trucks set on fire during protests

A man was killed after being hit by a truck in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi this morning, triggering protests during which two trucks were set on fire.

The deceased, Akram Ali, a worker at a local tailor shop and a resident of Thanapara area in Charghat upazila, died on the spot, said Puthia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Faridul Islam.

Police said a sand-laden drum truck struck him while he was crossing on the Rajshahi–Dhaka highway in the Biraldaha Mazar area around 7:00am.

Following the incident, locals became agitated and set fire to the truck involved, along with another drum truck, said Paba Highway Police Station OC Mozammel Haque.

They also prevented fire service personnel from dousing the flames, OC Faridul said.

Witness Mizanur Rahman said locals blocked the highway for around two hours, from 7:00am to 9:00am, causing disruption to traffic.

Police from Puthia Police Station and Paba Highway Police later brought the situation under control around 9:00am, allowing traffic movement to resume.

OC Faridul visited the scene, where locals initially confronted police and demanded a ban on daytime movement of dump trucks and the installation of speed breakers.

He assured them that necessary steps would be taken, which helped calm the protesters.

Police said the body has been handed over to the victim’s family, and a case is being filed.