A road accident in Gazipur’s Sreepur has claimed the life of six-year-old Tanvir Islam Arian around 12:00pm today.

Arian, son of Sojol Islam and Mosammat Arju Moni, lived near the gate of Fakhruddin Textile in the Keowa Purba Khondo area. He was a student of class 2.

According to Sub-Inspector Lutfor Rahman of Sreepur Police Station, Arian was standing by the road near Keowa Purba Khondo Government Primary School after school hours, waiting for his mother.

At the time, a covered van, coming from behind, hit him. The impact threw him against a roadside pole, leaving him trapped between the vehicle and the pole, causing severe injuries.

Locals quickly rescued him and rushed him to the hospital.

Dr Shafiqul Islam, health and family planning officer at Sreepur Health Complex, confirmed that the child had died before being brought to the hospital.

SI Lutfor said the body has been kept at the police station. Police have seized the covered van and are searching for the driver. They are also speaking with the child’s parents regarding filing a case.

It has not yet been decided whether the body will be sent for autopsy, SI Lutfor said.

Arian’s mother, in tears, said, “I saw my child standing there waiting for me. When the covered van was reversing, I ran toward him and found him lying on the ground.”

Local resident Saeed Chowdhury said, “Even after the child died, his blood-stained school bag was lying beside the road -- it was a heartbreaking sight.”

He also mentioned that just last Friday, another child in Sreepur was killed after being hit by a truck while crossing the road on the way to Jummah prayers.

“One after another, such road accidents are leaving parents devastated,” he added.