Dhaka: An autorickshaw driver and his passenger were killed in a road accident in Nalitabari upazila of Sherpur early Saturday. The tragic incident took place around 3am in the Sannyasibhita area on the Sherpur-Nalitabari road.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the deceased were identified as Kamrul Hossain, 40, an autorickshaw driver from Khariapara village under Baghber Union, and Shahidul Islam, 40, from Salehabad Krishnapatti village. Shahidul had arrived in Nalitabari from Dhaka around 2:30am and hired Kamrul’s autorickshaw to travel to his in-laws’ house in Sagaradi Krishnapatti under Pachgaon.

Local residents and police reported that the accident occurred in front of the Baghber Union Parishad office. The autorickshaw was found mangled beside a pile of sand stacked along the roadside. Both victims were discovered nearby, and locals promptly informed the police.

Authorities recovered the bodies and the wrecked autorickshaw, subsequently transporting them to Nalitabari Police Station. There are suspicions that the autorickshaw might have collided with the sand pile due to low visibility or was struck by an unidentified heavy vehicle. An investigation into the exact cause of the crash is ongoing.

Sub-Inspector Abdul Hannan, the second officer at Nalitabari Police Station, stated that the police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. He also confirmed that the bodies were returned to their families on Saturday after inquest reports were prepared, following family requests to proceed with burial without post-mortem examinations.