The families at Rajendrabati village of Naogaon’s Manda upazila were preparing to welcome their sons home for Eid-ul-Azha after months of hardship and work in distant districts.
Instead, many of them are now waiting for the bodies of their loved ones after a devastating highway accident at Tangail’s Kalihati early Monday.
The families in Rajendrabati village of Naogaon’s Manda upazila were preparing to welcome their sons home for Eid-ul-Azha after months of hardship and work in distant districts.
At least 15 people, most of whom were hawkers, were killed and 10 others injured when a truck carrying homebound passengers overturned on the Dhaka–Tangail–Jamuna Bridge route.
Among the deceased were 10 hawkers from Bharsho union at Manda upazila, including seven from the same Rajendrabati village.
The hawkers used to travel through villages in Noakhali selling plastic household goods in exchange for old mobile phones, used materials and human hair.
Villagers said that many of them chose to return home on trucks because bus fares had increased sharply ahead of Eid.
For Tarek Zia, 21, the journey home was supposed to mark a new beginning in life.
He left for Noakhali about two months ago after promising his family that he would return before Eid, complete the unfinished work of their under-construction house and marry soon afterward.
On Monday afternoon, his father Sultan Ali stood silently in the yard of the unfinished house as neighbours gathered after hearing the news.
Family members said that Tarek regularly sent money home to continue the construction work.
‘He told us that he would return before Eid and finish everything this time. Now he is coming back as a dead body,’ Sultan Ali said in tears.
The accident also shattered the family of Sohag Ali, 16, the only son of Akubbor Ali of the same village.
Sohag got married only six months ago and went to Noakhali three weeks earlier to earn money before Eid.
His maternal uncle Ataur Rahman said that he himself returned from Noakhali Monday morning by riding on the cargo bed of a truck and learned about the accident only after reaching home.
‘Bus tickets were unavailable and fares rose to Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000, while travelling by truck cost only Tk 500,’ he said.
Another victim, Md Badsha, 30, left behind a young daughter while his wife is pregnant with another child.
After hearing the news, his wife Sabina Yasmin repeatedly fainted.
‘We spoke twice during the night. He told me he bought toys for our daughter. She became so happy hearing that her father was bringing gifts home. What will I tell my child now?’ she cried.
Badshah’s grandfather Abdus Salam said that a police sub-inspector informed them over the phone that his grandson and nephew died.
Rabiul Islam, cousin of deceased Mainur Rahman, said that Mainur called home Sunday afternoon to tell that he would arrive Monday night to celebrate Eid with the family.
Mainur was the sole earning member of his family, supporting his elderly parents, wife and three-year-old son.
‘The whole family depended on him. Now they have nobody,’ Rabiul said.
Relatives crowded the narrow village roads throughout Monday as bodies did not arrive till Monday evening.
