The driver of the truck ran over the student and drove away

A pick-up truck ran over a student of Tolaram College in Naryanganj on Wednesday when a group of protesting students tried to stop the vehicle in front of Dania College in Jatrabari.

Faisal Mahmud, 18, underwent initial treatment at the Proactive Medical College Hospital in Narayanganj’s Siddhirganj area, before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) at 9:45pm.

At the time of filing this report, he had been sent to the DMCH surgery department, so that his liver could be checked for bleeding and damage.

The second-year student of Tolaram College was taking part in the fourth day of protests that followed after two students were killed by a bus on Airport Road, Dhaka, on Sunday.

Senior Assistant Commissioner(Demra zone)Iftekharul Islam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)confirmed that Faisal was undergoing treatment and his doctors said he was now out of danger.

“We have already collected the pick-up truck’s licence number. We are working to find the truck and arrest its driver,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Hospital official Dr Salauddinsaid Faisal had injuries in his left foot, hips, and lips. He was admitted to the hospital around 12pm.

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune last night, Faisal’s father Shamsul Haque said Faisal was bleeding with his urine, but the doctors had yet to figure out what was wrong.

“He has been referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH),” Shamsul added.

Shamsul said his son, who is due to sit for his Commerce group HSC examination next year, left the house in the Kodomtoli area on Wednesday morning saying he was going to college.

“But around 10:30am, I heard he had been in an accident and was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Later I found out he was admitted to Proactive Medical College Hospital,” he added.

Soon after the accident, a video clip of the accident went viral on social networking platform Facebook, where Faisal could be seen trying to stop the truck, aided by his fellow protesting students. At one point, the pick-up truck was seen speeding forward and running over Faisal before fleeing the scene.

At first, rumour spread that Faisal had been killed in the accident, but in the afternoon it was confirmed that he was alive and in hospital.

Students staged protests demanding road safety for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday following the road accident in Dhaka’s Airport Road area caused by reckless driving which killed two Class XII students on Sunday.

With growing protests, students from more and more schools, colleges, and universities are taking to the streets,blocking Dhaka’s streets to press home their demands for justice.