New Chattogram Civil Surgeon Sazedur Rahman was involved in a highway collision while travelling from Cumilla to Chattogram on Monday, his first working day in the district. The crash occurred at about 9am near Kumira Royal Gate in Sitakunda on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. His wife, Dr Lubna, was injured and admitted to a private hospital in Chattogram.

Police and local sources said the ambulance carrying the couple collided with a No. 8 minibus travelling from Alankar toward Sitakunda near the Kumira U-turn. The ambulance’s glass broke in the collision, injuring Dr Lubna. Rahman left his wife at the hospital and then went to his new workplace to assume his duties.

Baro Awlia Highway Police seized the No. 8 minibus, and Sergeant Zakirul Islam said authorities would investigate the incident and take necessary legal action. Transport leader Mohammad Khurshid Alam alleged that unfit vehicles operate on the highway without route permits or driver licences. Sitakunda UNO Fakhrul Islam said action would be taken quickly if the vehicles lack valid route permits.