Man picks up phone from killed driver's pocket, tells caller to come to the scene real quick
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Locals were pulling passengers out of a crumpled microbus on one side of the road, placing the dead and injured along the shoulder. Amidst the chaos, a phone rang from the pocket of a lifeless body. One of the rescuers answered it. The caller on the other end was looking for the phone's owner. The rescuer delivered the tragic news of the accident and urged them to come to the scene immediately.
The call came in around 2:00 AM on Saturday on the mobile phone of Mohammad Munna, the microbus driver who died on the spot after being rammed by a covered van in the Moijjartek area under Karnafuli Police Station.
The bride’s family was returning to Eidgah in Cox's Bazar after attending a wedding ceremony in Agrabad. Besides Munna, three others lost their lives: the bride Fahim’s brother Md. Morshed, her sister Mift Akter, and their maternal uncle Ferdous Alam.
The bride’s father, Monjur Alam, and mother, Nilufa Akter, were critically injured. Everyone was returning home in a joyful post-wedding mood, sharing laughs and stories. They were supposed to reach Eidgah happily by early morning. Instead, on Sunday afternoon, four bodies were sent home from the Chittagong Medical College (CMC) morgue. All four deceased hailed from the Eidgah area.
Relatives rushed to the hospital following the accident on Sunday, many breaking down in tears. Azizul Haq, brother of the deceased Ferdous Alam, was completely fell apart by the tragedy, having lost his brother, nephew, and niece in a single crash.
"We set off together in four vehicles after the wedding ceremony," Azizul said. "The vehicle carrying my brother pulled over to refuel, while we moved a bit further ahead. Later, we received a call about the accident. When we turned back and reached the spot, we saw a horrifying scene—the inside of the vehicle was soaked in blood."
Seven others, including his brother-in-law and sister, were injured in the accident and are receiving treatment at CMC Hospital. Monjur Alam remains admitted in critical condition, while Nilufa suffered relatively minor injuries. Sub-Inspector Alauddin Talukder of the CMC police outpost confirmed that Monjur Alam was transferred to Dhaka in the afternoon for advanced treatment.
The man who had been beaming with joy over his daughter's wedding just an hour prior now lies unconscious. Relatives stood in disbelief, unable to comprehend the sudden tragedy.
Monjur Alam has two daughters and a son. The family had traveled to Chittagong for the wedding of his eldest daughter, Fahim, filled with immense joy. The wedding festivities ended grandly late at night, with many photos taken. One family photo with the newlyweds stands out, leaving everyone heartbroken—Monjur's youngest son, Morshed Alam, who poses in the picture, has now been reduced to just a memory, alongside his departed sister.
