Photo: BSS

By Delwar Hossain Akaid

CUMILLA, March 22, 2026 (BSS) - Bus driver Pintu Mia has been left devastated after losing his wife and two daughters in a bus-train collision in Padua, Cumilla. 

The irony is that he earned his livelihood ensuring the safe travel of passengers, yet lost his own family in a fatal accident involving the same transport system.

Pintu Mia, a resident of Maheshpur upazila in Jhenaidah district, lived with his family in the Manikdi area of Dhaka Cantonment. 

He worked as a driver for “Mamun Special” transport. During the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, he traveled to his village home with his wife and children.

 What began as a joyful Eid celebration turned into the greatest tragedy of his life.

On the afternoon of Eid day, he decided to send his wife, Laiju Akter, and their two daughters—six-year-old Khadija Akter and three-and-a-half-year-old Mariam Akter—to his in-laws’ home in Hajirhat, Lakshmipur. 

According to the plan, they boarded a Noakhali–Lakshmipur-bound bus of “Mamun Special.”

However, Pintu Mia was not on that bus. He had to go to Dhaka to receive his brother-in-law arriving from Saudi Arabia. After putting his family on the bus, he got off in Dhaka and requested a fellow driver to look after them during the journey. 

That decision ultimately turned into the greatest tragedy of his life.

Pintu Mia said he remained in regular contact with his colleague during the journey and frequently checked on his family. 

Everything seemed normal, but late at night communication suddenly broke down. Despite repeated attempts, he could no longer reach them.

Early Sunday morning, an accident occurred at the Jangalya rail crossing near Padua Bazar Bishwaroad in Cumilla Sadar Dakshin upazila. 

A Dhaka-bound “Chattogram Mail” train collided head-on with the Noakhali–Lakshmipur-bound passenger bus. Twelve people were killed on the spot, and several others injured.

The names of Pintu Mia’s wife and two daughters were confirmed among the deceased. Upon receiving the news, he was mentally shattered and rushed to Cumilla.

At the morgue of Cumilla Medical College Hospital, amid the cries of grieving relatives, he stood speechless. Waiting to receive the bodies of his three family members, his condition was deeply heartbreaking. 

According to relatives, he has barely been able to speak since the incident.

Pintu Mia said that although he is alive, everything in his life is now over. His wife and children were his only support, he said.

Several families have been plunged into grief by this accident. Authorities have said the incident will be investigated and necessary measures taken.

There have also been renewed calls to strengthen safety at accident-prone railway crossings.

Train services on the Dhaka–Chattogram route were suspended for some time after the accident.

Normal operations resumed following rescue efforts.