Police official decries safety crisis after daughter critically injured by unregistered auto-rickshaw in Chittagong
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A young student was severely injured after being struck by an unregistered battery-operated autorickshaw in the Khulshi Jalalabad Society area of Chittagong on Monday. The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. as the third-grade student, Nawal Ansari, was arriving at her residence.
The victim’s father, Ansarul Karim, a police officer currently serving with the Detective Branch (North) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police, expressed his outrage on social media following the collision. According to Karim, his daughter had just stepped out of a taxi in front of their gate when the speeding, unauthorized vehicle struck her, causing her to be thrown onto the road.
Nawal sustained critical injuries to her head, lips, face, and forehead, as well as trauma to both hands. Local residents assisted in rushing her to a private hospital in the GEC area, after which she was transferred to another facility for advanced medical treatment.
Questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement regarding road safety, Karim noted that if a police officer cannot ensure the safety of his own child, the vulnerability of the general public is profound. He highlighted that these vehicles operate without driving licenses, training, or speed regulations, and he called upon the city corporation to implement decisive measures, including the permanent impoundment of such illegal vehicles.
The incident has reignited public debate regarding the persistent presence of battery-operated autorickshaws on Chittagong’s streets. Despite government-led crackdowns and prohibitions on their movement, these vehicles remain rampant in residential areas and alleyways. Residents report that these autorickshaws frequently encroach upon main thoroughfares, particularly after sunset in areas such as Chawkbazar, DC Road, and Bakalia Access Road.
The proliferation of these vehicles, often operating with impunity, has resulted in a string of accidents and fatalities across the city. Observers note that while official campaigns against illegal transport occasionally take place, the lack of sustained enforcement has allowed these unregulated vehicles to remain a continuous hazard to pedestrians and school children.
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