What was meant to be a joyful reunion turned into an unfathomable tragedy as an expatriate returning from Oman lost seven members of his family in a devastating road accident in Noakhali early Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred on the Lakshmipur-Chowmuhani road, near Purbo Jagadishpur village in Alaiyapur Union under Begumganj Upazila, as the family was returning to Lakshmipur after receiving their loved one, Bahar, from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
According to police and local sources, the microbus carrying the family veered off the road and plunged into a roadside canal near the Noakhali-Lakshmipur border. The deceased include Bahar’s mother Murshida (50), wife Kabita (25), two-year-old daughter Mim, niece Reshmi (9), Lamia Akhter (8), younger brother’s wife Laboni (25), and grandmother Foyzun Nesa (70). All were residents of Paschim Choupalli village under Uttar Joypur Union in Lakshmipur Sadar.
Tragically, the house they were heading to was just minutes away from the crash site.
Chandraganj Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Mobarak Hossain Bhuiyan confirmed the recovery of the vehicle and stated that preliminary investigations suggest the driver lost control, leading the vehicle to plunge into the canal.
Of the twelve people inside the microbus, only five survived — including Bahar, his father-in-law Iskandar Mirza, and the driver.
Speaking to reporters, a visibly shaken Mirza recounted the horrifying moments. He said the driver had appeared drowsy and was repeatedly urged by family members to stop and rest. “We pleaded with him to sleep at the nearest market. He did stop briefly, but resumed driving while still visibly sleepy. Despite our repeated warnings, he ignored us.”
Moments later, the vehicle lost control and plunged into the water. “It was completely dark. Bahar, the driver, and I managed to escape, but our cries for help echoed into silence. We stayed in the water for nearly two hours before anyone noticed. The fire service arrived around 6am and pulled out the bodies,” Mirza said in tears.
Back in Paschim Choupalli, the air is heavy with grief. Hundreds of villagers gathered outside Bahar’s family home, mourning the loss of multiple generations in a single stroke. The heartbreak is immeasurable — a young man who crossed seas in search of a better life, only to return home to bury nearly his entire family.
Police say legal proceedings are underway and further action will be taken upon receiving formal complaints from the victims’ families.
