Woman jumps from motorcycle to save toddler, both killed in Sitakunda highway accident

A woman was killed on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Sitakunda upazila last night (15 May) after she jumped from a motorcycle to save her 22-month-old child, who had fallen onto the road, with the child also dying later at a hospital.

The mother, Mosammat Tarin, 28, worked as a computer operator at the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner's Office.

Baroawlia Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) MA Haque said, "While returning from the Bhatiary Golf & Country Club area, the child fell from the motorcycle and the mother jumped to save the child.

"At that moment, a vehicle ran over her, killing her on the spot. The child later died in the hospital."

She had gone to visit the area in Sitakunda with her husband, Zakaria Nayan, and their child.

According to police and family members, the family was returning to the Lalkhan Bazar area in Chattogram on the motorcycle after the outing.

When they reached the Bangladesh Military Academy (BM) Gate area in Bhatiary, the 22-month-old child suddenly fell from the mother's lap onto the highway after a jolt.

Tarin immediately jumped from the motorcycle to save the child, but was run over by a speeding covered van coming from behind and died on the spot.

The critically injured child was rescued and taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where it later died during treatment.

Zakaria Nayan alleged that amid the chaos following the accident, someone stole his wife's bag containing a mobile phone, cash, gold ornaments and important documents.

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Fakhrul Islam said, "The deaths of Tarin, an official of the Divisional Commissioner's Office, and her child in the accident are extremely tragic. The incident has left us shocked."