Pickup van crash damages railing of Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge in Pirojpur

The Roads and Highways Department has begun repairing the damaged section of the bridge

A pickup van has veered off course and crashed into the railing of the China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge in Pirojpur’s Kawkhali Upazila, smashing part of the structure.

No casualties were reported.

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning at the Bekutia end of the bridge over the Kocha River, said Kawkhali Police chief Md Solaiman.

Police and witnesses said the vehicle was en route to Pirojpur from Rajapur in Jhalakathi when it went off course and hit the railing of the eighth China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge at the Kawkhali end.

The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled immediately after the crash, they said.

Responding to the report, police and Roads and Highways Department (RHD) workers reached the site, removed the vehicle, and began repairs on the damaged section.

The pickup is now in custody at Kawkhali Police Station.

“After arriving at the scene, we ensured normal traffic flow across the bridge,” officer Solaiman said.

He added that a case has been filed under the Special Powers Act by an RHD official, accusing the driver of damaging state property.

Tanvir Ahmed, executive engineer of the Pirojpur RHD, said repair work is in progress and vehicle movement on the bridge remains unaffected.