Two killed after truck drives against traffic, crushes autorickshaw in Dhaka

Truck driver claims he chose the wrong way to chase another vehicle, witnesses say

A deadly late-night crash in Dhaka’s Jatrabari has left two people dead after a speeding truck drove against traffic and ran over a battery-run autorickshaw.

The incident occurred around 1am on Friday at Mirhajirbagh Kachabazar, when the truck ploughed into the vehicle carrying a driver and a passenger.

Both victims were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared them dead, said Jatrabari Police chief Mohammad Raju.

The autorickshaw driver was identified as Firoz Ahmed, 50. The identity of the passenger remains unknown.

“Immediately after the incident, the truck and its driver were detained; we are working on the case,” the officer said.

Khairul, a witness identified by a single name, said he was having tea at a shop beside the market when he saw a truck racing down the wrong side of the road before crushing the autorickshaw.

Locals rescued the injured victims from beneath the truck and took them to the hospital.

Khairul said, “When asked why he was driving the wrong way, the driver said his truck had collided with another truck in Dayaganj, and he was speeding against traffic to catch it.”