Two elderly men killed by sand-laden drum truck in Sirajdikhan on their way home from Fajr prayers

Two elderly men, Nekbar Ali Sarkar (65) and Md Kaiyum Dewan (75), were killed when a sand-laden drum truck ran over them in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj. Another elderly man, Hashem Bepari (70), was injured in the accident.

The accident happened at around 6am on Monday (November 2) in front of the two-storey mosque at Gayatala Dakshinpara in Latabdi Union of the upazila.

Nekbar Ali Sarkar was the son of the late Lechu Sarkar of Ramanandan village in the upazila. The other victim, Kaiyum Dewan, was the son of the late Shahar Ali Dewan of Gayatala Dakshinpara. The injured Hashem Bepari is the son of the late Hossain Bepari of the same area.

Police and local sources said several elderly men were standing in front of the mosque on their way home after offering Fajr prayers when an unregistered sand-laden drum truck travelling from Sirajdikhan towards Baluchar ran over them, leaving all three seriously injured.

Local people rescued them and took them to the Sirajdikhan Upazila Health Complex, where the doctor on duty declared Nekbar Ali Sarkar and Kaiyum Dewan dead. The injured Hashem Bepari returned home after receiving first aid.

Hashem Bepari said they were walking in front of the mosque after Fajr prayers when a drum truck suddenly drove over them. He lost consciousness in the impact and could not say what happened afterwards.

Mehedi Hasan, a doctor at the emergency department of the Sirajdikhan Upazila Health Complex, said local people brought the three elderly men to the hospital in the morning, but two of them had already died before arrival.

Sirajdikhan police station officer-in-charge (OC) Md Alauddin said police were sent to the scene after news of the accident came in. The drum truck has been seized, but the driver has fled. He said legal action over the incident is being taken swiftly.