State minister Bari's car veers into ditch to avoid hitting woman in Bogura

A car carrying State Minister for Public Administration and Food Abdul Bari has plunged into a roadside ditch in Bogura's Shibganj after the driver tried to avoid hitting a woman crossing the road.

The accident occurred around 9am on Friday in the Gopinathpur area of Kichak Union on the Mokamtala-Joypurhat road, according to Shibganj Police Station chief Shahinuzzaman.

The pedestrian, identified by her first name as Firoza, was rescued and taken to TMSS Medical College Hospital in Bogura, police said.

Bari sustained “minor” injuries in the accident, while his wife, who was travelling with him, was unharmed, according to the police officer.

Bari was travelling from Dhaka to his parliamentary constituency, Joypurhat-2, when the elderly woman suddenly crossed the road near Gopinathpur, police and locals said.

The driver swerved to avoid her, causing the car to veer off the road and plunge into the ditch.

The minister and his wife left for Joypurhat in another vehicle shortly after the accident, officer Shahinuzzaman said.

Firoza’s injuries were not considered serious. Police were arranging for a tow truck to recover the damaged car.