2 boys die falling from election campaign's pickup in Noakhali

 

Noakhali Live: Two school students died and another two youths sustained injuries at Charmotua union under Noakhali Sadar upazila on Wednesday night after they fell from a pick-up van during an election campaign for a UP chairman candidate, witnesses said.

The deceased were identified as Mehraz Hossain Rafi, 12, son of expatriate Kamrul Islam Mohon of Purbo Bharamapur Patwary Bari in Ward No. 8 and a student of class six in Thekarhat Hazi Ahmad Ullah High School, and Naimul Islam Sangram, 11, a student of class five from Ikra Pre-Cadet Academy.

Mehraz was buried on Thursday morning, while Sangram in the afternoon. Injured Md Rasel, 20, and Md Zainal, 21, were being treated at Noakhali General Hospital.

The incident happened around 7:45pm on Wednesday during the election campaign of Awami League nominated Charmotua UP chairman candidate Kamal Uddin Bablu at Monarkhil village.

According to locals, some 8-10 local school students joined  the campaign on a pick-up van. As the vehicle reached in front of a Mazar at Monarkhil village the side door of the van suddenly opened and some of the students fell down.

Mehraz died on the spot crushed by the van while Samrat succumbed to his injuries around 2am on the way to Dhaka Hospital, said Syed Mohiuddin Ahmed Fazle Azim, Resident Medical Officer of Noakhali General Hospital.

About the incident, AL-backed candidate Bablu said two children died while attending a Victory Day rally in a pick-up van as the driver made a hard break. "It was not my election campaign where the accident occurred," he claimed.

Zakir Hossain, Inspector (investigation) of Sudharampur police station said no one has lodged any complaint yet. Actions will be taken after getting the complaint, he said.

Dhaka, 17 December (campuslive24.com)//AZ

---

---