High Court judge's car on wrong lane runs over motorcycle, injures rider in Dhaka

A High Court judge's car, driving in the wrong lane of a Dhaka street, has run over a motorcycle and critically injured its rider.

The victim, Zubin Faisal, was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University or BSMMU Hospital after the collision near the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel at Shahbagh on Sunday evening.

The police, quoting doctors at the hospital, said Faisal’s condition was critical.

Ramna police OC Mashiur Rahman confirmed that the Mitsubishi SUV belonged to a judge, who was not in the car when it happened.

The police officer did not disclose the judge's name, but a court official told bdnews24.com that the car's owner is High Court's Justice Jahangir Hossain.

Lalbagh traffic zone’s Senior Assistant Commissioner Harun Or Rashid told bdnews24.com that the SUV was headed for Banglamotor from Minto Road on the wrong lane.

The motorcycle had turned towards Minto Road and crashed into the vehicle head-on.

An IT executive with a private firm, Faisal and the motorcycle went straight under the car at speed, Rashid said.

Traffic police detained the vehicle’s driver 'Kamal' and handed him over to Ramna police.

Ramna police OC Rahman, however, said they are yet to formally arrest the driver. “The car’s owner is paying for the medical expenses of the victim.”

After the news broke, a relative of the judge told bdnews24.com that no members of the judge's family were in the vehicle when the accident happened.

He said the judge's family oversaw Faisal’s admission at the BSMMU Hospital and were taking care of his treatment.

“We are in touch with the patient's family,” said the relative who did not want to be named.

However, one of Faisal’s family members who identified himself as Rangan said they were getting no help from anyone. “We’re doing everything by ourselves.”

Faisal has been given several bags of blood for transfusion, he said. “We’re also considering moving him to another hospital for better treatment.”

Rangan said he heard that a judge's car was involved, but said their priority was now Faisal’s wellbeing rather than taking legal actions.