Long march bus plunges into pond at Patkelghata: pedestrian killed, over fifty injured, rescue under way
On the way back from the 11-party unity long march rally in Khulna, a bus carrying Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists ran over a pedestrian and plunged into a pond at Patkelghata in Satkhira. The pedestrian, Abdul Khalek Moral, 65, died on the spot, and more than fifty leaders and activists on board were injured. The accident took place at around 8:30pm on Saturday (31 October) near Patkelghata Bazar Mor on the Khulna-Satkhira highway.
The deceased Abdul Khalek Moral was the son of Aftab Moral of Kashiadanga village under Khalishkhali Union in Patkelghata. According to local residents, Abdul Khalek was mentally imbalanced and was known in the area as 'Khalek Pagol'.
Talking to police and eyewitnesses, it was learnt that as the bus was crossing Patkelghata Bazar Mor, Abdul Khalek suddenly came into the middle of the road. The driver lost control while trying to save him, and the bus fell into a pond beside the road. The pedestrian was crushed under the bus and died on the spot.
The victim's neighbour Ripon Molla said Jamaat leaders and activists were returning to Satkhira after finishing the long march in Khulna. While crossing Patkelghata Bazar Mor, the bus ran over pedestrian Abdul Khalek, who died on the spot. The bus then fell into the ditch-pond beside the road, injuring the Jamaat leaders and activists.
After the accident, many of the Jamaat leaders, activists and supporters inside the bus were trapped. On receiving the news, Fire Service personnel, police and local people quickly reached the spot and began rescue work. The injured were rescued and admitted to Satkhira Sadar Hospital and various local hospitals.
Most of the injured are residents of the Ghona area of Satkhira and leaders and activists of Jamaat, it was learnt.
On hearing the news, Satkhira-1 (Tala-Kalaroa) MP Principal Md Izzat Ullah, Satkhira-2 (Sadar) MP Muhaddis Abdul Khalek and Satkhira district Jamaat ameer Principal Shahidul Islam Mukul, along with top district Jamaat leaders, quickly reached the accident site. They supervised the rescue work overall and inquired after the treatment of the injured.
Satkhira-2 MP Abdul Khalek said: 'There were at least 51 to 55 leaders and activists on the bus who took part in the 11-party long march. Arrangements have been made to send all the injured to hospital. However, whether anyone else is trapped under the bus can only be confirmed after the bus is recovered from the pond. Recovery work on the crashed bus is currently under way. District and local Jamaat leaders are extending all-out cooperation to ensure treatment of the injured.'
Patkelghata police station officer-in-charge (OC) Tofazzal Hossain said: 'An elderly man named Abdul Khalek died after being run over by the bus. The Fire Service and law enforcement agencies are working to recover the crashed bus. Alongside the local administration, party people are also extending all-out cooperation to ensure treatment of the injured.'
