Seven labourers were killed and four injured when a truck rolled over on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Comilla yesterday morning.
The victims, four of whom were relatives, were travelling home to Gaibandha and were all asleep when the accident happened, injured workers said. Six of them died on the spot, and one died around 10am on his way to Dhaka, said Abdul Awal, OC at Maynamati Highway police station.
The deceased are Shafiqul Islam, 37, Shahin Miah, 18, Zahidul Islam, 40, Aslam Miah, 35, Anwar Hossain, 33, Fazlu Miah, 35, and Zahid Hossain, 65.
“We went to Sitakunda in Chittagong in search of farming jobs,” survivor Matinur said. “But we could not find any work as rain has destroyed crops in most fields.”
The truck was carrying tin to Rangpur from Chittagong and agreed to give ride to Matinur and his companions. “Seeing the road free, the truck started moving after crossing Comilla...It was drizzling then. As we reached Dhanpur, the truck suddenly collided with the central reservation and rolled over. I was awake, so I jumped off. But my relatives could not.”
The driver and his helper fled the scene after the accident. Comilla district administration gave Tk10,000 to the families of the dead and Tk5,000 each to the injured workers.
