“Ruma road accident or planned”

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

“Yesterday afternoon we were going to Ruma market in a truck to bring government rice. Another empty speeding truck was following us. When we reached at Komola Bazar area, the truck behind suddenly hit the truck carrying us before we understand anything.”

Lovely Par Bawm of remote Sunsong Para who was injured in a road accident in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila was telling.

On Tuesday afternoon at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Lovely also said, “There was enough space on the road. The truck behind us could have easily passed by our truck if it wanted.”

“We boarded the truck with the help of the members of law enforcers at Boga Lake area as there was no passenger bus in the road at that time “, she said.

“Me and my child survived fortunately. In our life we have to struggle a lot to arrange even a meal. I don’t know what to do”, she said.

“This is not a mere accident. It is a planned murder. We demand a fair investigation in this incident”, said Rupui Bawm, a relative of the injured Lam Kil Bawm.

“The truck behind us came at a high speed and hit the truck carrying us,” said La Pian Kim Bawm, another injured woman.

“Was it an accident or planned. We want a proper investigation into it”, said injured Lal Pian.

One of the two helpers of the speeding truck was Kya Ching Kyang.

“We were behind to the passenger carrying truck. Before we understand anything, our truck lost control. After the incident, our driver Nurul Hakim ran away”, said Kyaw Ching.

“I have been working under the driver for a month and a half but I don’t know the owner of the truck. I was also injured. No one from the truck owner authority even contacted with me after the incident”, he said.

“We have already formed an inquiry committee as the road accident in Ruma is sensitive”, said Bandarban Additional District Magistrate Umme Kulsum.

“District superintendent of police, assistant director of BRTA and a representative of BUET will be as members of the committee”, she said.

“We will go to the spot. I will be able to give details after talking to everyone involved of the incident”, said Umme Kulsum.

Six indigenous people including a mother and her daughter were killed and at least 14 people including children were injured when a passenger truck was hit by another truck from behind at Komola Bazar area of ​​Ruma-Boga Lake road in Bandarban on Monday noon.

Nine of the injured are under treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Rupui Bawm said.

“First we heard it was a collision. Later we came to know that an empty truck hit the passenger carrying truck from behind. We are yet to find the owner of the trucks. We are trying to arrest the drivers”, said Md. Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ruma police station.