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Published : 25 May 2026, 09:06 PM
Seven of the 15 people killed in a road accident on the Dhaka–Tangail–Jamuna Bridge highway were hawkers from the same village in Naogaon’s Manda Upazila, their families have said.
The victims, all from Rajendrabati village in Varsho, were among a group of itinerant traders working in Noakhali’s Begumganj Upazila.
They were on their way home ahead of Eid-ul-Azha when the accident struck early Monday.
Police and Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said the incident took place around 4am in Saratail of Tangail’s Kalihati Upazila when a rod-laden truck overturned on the highway, killing 15 people and injuring 10 others.
The injured are undergoing treatment at Tangail General Hospital.
Residents said the group had been living in rented accommodation in Begumganj, selling plastic household goods by visiting homes on bicycles.
Some were also involved in collecting human hair and used mobile phones for resale.
They had boarded the goods-laden truck for their journey home to cut on their travel costs.
Three other victims of the road accidents who also died were from nearby villages in the same union in Naogaon.
News of the deaths reached Rajendrabati early in the morning, triggering widespread grief across the village.
Relatives and neighbours rushed to the victims’ homes, where scenes of mourning continued throughout the day.
Locals said dozens of young men from the area regularly travel to different parts of the country for seasonal trading and small-scale businesses, especially in coastal districts.
Many prefer cheaper but unsafe transport options such as cargo vehicles to reduce travel expenses.
One widow said she had spoken to her husband late at night about buying Eid clothes and gifts for their daughter, unaware it would be their last conversation.
Another victim had been married only a year ago, with relatives saying he had last contacted his family on Sunday afternoon before the accident cut off all communication.
The dead from Rajendrabati have been identified as Tariq Zia, 21, Badsha Miah, 30, Abdul Barik, 20, Sohag Hossain, 21, Rabiul Islam, 28, Mainur Islam, 30, and Sagar Hossain, 20.
Badsha’s wife Sabina Khatun wailed while clutching her only daughter Rahi Moni.
"He spoke to me several times on the phone during the journey,” she said.
“He told me he was bringing a new dress and henna for our daughter. She was waiting for her father to bring her Eid gifts."
