A police vehicle speeding on the wrong side of the road has killed a private university student at Dhaka’s Banani.
Riaz Uddin Tipu, a BBA final-year student at ASA University, was on his motorcycle when a minibus without a number plate, requisitioned by police, hit him yesterday afternoon. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
Tipu, 26, worked for mobile company Oppo. His colleague Bitin, who was pillion riding, was seriously injured, Banani police station’s Inspector (investigation) Waheduzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune.
They were on their way to Radisson hotel to attend a programme.
Waheduzzaman confirmed that police had requisitioned the vehicle. “We have detained the driver and will investigate why he was on the wrong side,” he said, declining further comment.
Witnesses faulted police. They said the minibus, rushing towards Mohakhali flyover, hit Tipu’s motorcycle when he was making space for another vehicle.
“He could have been saved had police stopped. But they sped away after running over the bike,” a witness, seeking anonymity, said.
Students of nearby private universities blocked the road for about two hours after the accident. Police briefly detained three of Tipu’s colleagues from there. The agitators left after police promised stern actions against culprits.
Several witnesses questioned police action. “How can you expect people to abide by traffic laws when police choose to drive on the wrong side of the road?” a man said.
