Unruly pick-up van runs teenager over in Arambag

A pick-up van ran over a teenager in Dhaka’s Arambag early today as the spate of deaths resulting from lack of discipline in the city’s transport sector continues.

Mohammad Shawon, 18, a caretaker of a house in Arambag, was hit by the speeding vehicle around 2:00am, victim’s grandfather Shahidul Islam told The Daily Star.

It was a poultry-laden pick-up van that ran Shawon over while he was returning to his Fakirerpool residence on foot, he said.

Shawon was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where doctors declared him dead, Golam Rabbani, officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station, told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, another similar incident occurred in adjacent Jatrabari around 5:00am this morning when a human hauler drove into a parked tow-van and injured 13 passengers.

Azizur Rahman, officer-in-charge Jatrabari Police Station, endorsed the information while talking to The Daily Star and said six of the victims were taken to DMCH.

Just weeks ago, deaths of Titumir College Student Rajib Hossain and domestic help Rozina Akhter Rozi shook the nation with the awakening to unruly transport sector of Dhaka city.

House help Rozi was run over by a state-run BRTC bus in Banani and died on April 29. Orphan and guardian of two siblings Rajib died on April 26 after his hand was severed between two buses.