In Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district, an 8-year-old child was killed after being run over by a soil-laden truck. The incident occurred on Wednesday (January 15) in Noagram village of Jaifarnagar Union. The deceased child, Abu Saeed, was the son of Abdul Aziz from the same village. On Thursday (January 16), the child’s body was sent to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. After the autopsy, the body will be handed over to the family, police have reported.

The truck driver, identified as Abdul Haq, son of Abdul Karim from Bashirpur village, fled the scene, abandoning the truck after running over the child.

Reports suggest that a powerful group in Jaifarnagar Union’s Noagram has been illegally excavating fertile agricultural land and transporting soil via several trucks daily, defying government regulations. On Tuesday (January 13), three truck drivers were arrested by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Sabrina Akter in Khakteka area of Paschim Juri Union for illegally excavating soil. Following their arrest, workers blocked the road by abandoning trucks and raised slogans against the police and administration. At one point, the workers forcibly freed the detained drivers from the AC Land’s vehicle. Later, a meeting was held at the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s (UNO) office involving workers, owners, and local representatives. During the meeting, UNO Bablu Sutradhar reiterated a firm stance against the illegal excavation of agricultural land.

During the meeting, three drivers—Abdur Rahim, son of Elias Ali from Bashirpur; Bishweshwar Dutt, son of Gyan Dutt from Harirampur; and Helal Mia, son of Monir Mia from Bashirpur—were fined a total of Tk 15,000 (Tk 5,000 each).

However, within a day of the administrative action, the illegal soil excavation resumed. While transporting the excavated soil, a truck crushed Abu Saeed, leading to his tragic death.

The victim’s father, Abdul Aziz, said, “My son Abu Saeed was tragically killed by a reckless soil-laden truck on the dirt road in front of our house. I demand justice for this incident and accountability from the driver Abdul Haq and truck owner Delwar.”

Expressing their frustration, local residents said, “Even pedestrians struggle to use this dirt road in our village. The trucks carrying soil from Hakaluki Haor using excavators have made our lives unbearable. Despite repeated objections, the drivers have become more reckless, causing a series of deaths.”

The villagers also alleged that the trucks continue to operate recklessly, ignoring public protests. Due to the influential status of the truck owners, anyone opposing them is threatened with lawsuits or physical harm. They blamed the negligence of these powerful individuals for the death of young Abu Saeed.

Regarding the incident, Juri Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Murshedul Alam Bhuiyan stated, “Upon receiving the news, the police recovered the body and seized the offending truck. Efforts to arrest the accused driver are ongoing.”