Comilla, Aug 23 (V7N) — A tragic road accident on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in the South Comilla Sadar Upazila left four family members dead when a cement-laden truck overturned onto their private car at the U‑turn near Rampur substation office around 12:15 PM on Friday.
 
The victims were identified as Omar Ali (80), his wife Nurjahan Begum (65), their elder son Abul Hashem Swapon (50) — a branch manager at Bank Asia — and younger son Abul Kashem Mamun (45), who lived in separate flats in Dhaka. They were returning home to their village in Hosenpur after medical treatment in Dhaka.
 
At the time of the crash, the private car was making a U-turn onto Chandpur Road when the heavily loaded cement truck overturned while swerving to avoid a Hanif Paribahan bus, crushing both the car and a nearby auto‑rickshaw. Eyewitnesses immediately tried to rescue victims, but the compacted vehicles delayed recovery. About an hour later, rescue teams from the highway police and fire service arrived and retrieved the four bodies.
 
Local recounted, “Within a minute of the crash, dozens gathered, but we couldn't free them from the compressed car. We heard faint cries from inside.” The bodies were handed over to the family after recovery.
 
The victims were taken to the highway police station in Moinamati for identification. Family members included daughter-in-law Hasina Akter, who broke into tears upon seeing the bodies. Another son, Mamun, had a wife and two sons living in Mirpur; Hasina Akter worked at Jamuna Bank, and their youngest child, Roksana Akter, works at Dutch‑Bangla Bank. The bodies were brought to their village for burial.
 
Sub-Inspector Anisur Rahman of the highway police explained that the U-turn’s design hindered rescue efforts. The heavy load of the overturned truck required a higher-capacity crane. The truck driver fled the scene. The crash caused significant traffic congestion in the Dhaka-bound lane, which was cleared once the vehicles were removed.
 
Highway Police Chief Khairul Alam said that the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is constructing a proper U-loop to prevent future incidents. The work is 25% complete and delayed, now expected to finish by 2027 instead of the initial June 2025 target.
 
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