Two motorcyclists die after accident on Padma Bridge

Two young motorcyclists have died from injuries they sustained in the first known accident on the Padma Bridge, police say, as people were celebrating the opening of the structure.

Alamgir and Fazlu, both aged 25 and identified with a single name, were brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared them dead on Sunday night, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of the police camp at the hospital.

The youths appeared to be filming the trip during the accident that occurred in a place between pier No. 27 and 28 in the evening, police added.

Both victims are from Dhaka’s Dohar-Nawabganj. Fazlu returned home from abroad some days ago. Alamgir was a motor mechanic.

Jihadul Kabir, an additional deputy inspector general of police, said Madaripur’s Shibchar police will investigate the incident after the filing of a case.

The circumstances of the accident were sketchy. Jihadul said a video obtained from a mobile phone found at the scene showed they were overtaking a truck. “The video stopped immediately after that.”

Police suspect Alamgir and Fazlu fell from the motorcycle after being hit by the truck.

Authorities banned bicycles and autorickshaws from the Padma Bridge before its opening, but allowed motorcycles with a toll of Tk 100.

After the much-awaited opening at 6am, thousands of motorcyclists converged on the bridge, mostly on a pleasure trip. Many were seen waiting to cross the bridge in the evening, creating a long tailback.

As news of the accident spread on social media, the government banned motorcycles from the bridge, citing the risks of accident.

In a video purportedly of an aftermath of the accident, two young men were seen lying on the bridge with a motorcycle next to them.

Their friend Joydeb, who also gave a single name, said at the hospital six of them had gone to visit the bridge on three motorcycles. The accident occurred when they were returning from Zajira to Mawa.

“It was taking long for one motorcycle to reach Mawa. So, we went back and saw an accident occurred there. We brought them to the hospital later.”