Bike driver detained over death of Brac University student

A driver working for a ride sharing app was detained by police early today in connection with a case filed for death of Brac University student Fahmida Haque Labannya in a road accident yesterday.

Suman, a motorcyclist of ride-sharing platform UberMOTO, was detained from Nabinagar Housing in the capital’s Mohammadpur around 1:25am, Biplob Kumar Sarker, deputy commissioner (Tejgaon division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star.

His bike was also seized, the police official said.

Suman said in primary interrogation that Labannya took the ride from Shyamoli around 10:36am yesterday on the way to Khilgaon. A jaywalker suddenly appeared in front of the bike trying to cross the road near National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area, prompting him to brake, he said.

Labannya could not keep her balance and fell on the right side of the bike. Instantly a covered van ran her over, leaving her dead on the spot, the official said quoting the biker.

“We are investigating whether Suman made any mistake during driving or not. We are trying to arrest the driver of the covered van as well,” he added.

Fahmida Haque Labannya, 21, was a third-year student of Computer Science and Engineering department at Brac University.