He did not let any harm come to a passenger-packed bus when its brakes failed. But he had to pay the price with his own life.
No one has yet compensated for the sacrifice of Md Dulal, 31. His wife now faces an uncertain future with no ray of hope. Even the assistance provided by the local administration after learning of his bravery will not cover the family’s medicine costs for a single month.
Dulal lost his life around 8:30pm on Friday at the Dhaleshwari Toll Plaza in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj. The story is heartbreaking on one hand, yet on the other, it stands as a testament to extraordinary human responsibility.
The passenger-filled bus of Ahsan Paribahan was heading towards Dhaka when it suddenly suffered brake failure. The driver could not bring the vehicle under control. Before the situation could take a terrible turn, Dulal got off the bus at the risk of his own life. As a final attempt to stop the moving bus, he tried to place wood or something heavy under the wheels.
But at that moment, he was crushed under the wheels and died instantly at the scene. Because of his sacrifice, the bus came under control and none of the around 40 passengers were injured.
Dulal’s wife, Mosammat Muslima, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Dulal was the only source of income for my family. Our child died a few days after birth. I have been ill ever since. I need medicine costing about Tk10,000 every month. Dulal bore all the household expenses. I don’t know how I will survive now.”
Dulal was a resident of KG Para in Sadar Union of Bhurungamari upazila in Kurigram, bordering India. His life had been difficult since birth. He lost his mother when he was only three months old. When his father remarried, he was raised by his elder brother Aminur Islam. From the age of just 15, he started working as a transport worker out of economic necessity.
His brother Aminur said, “We two brothers lived in the same house. We received his body yesterday and buried him after Maghrib prayers. My brother is gone. He has no one except his wife. We are a very helpless family.”
Even though the transport sector regularly collects subscriptions claiming to stand by workers in distress, no assistance has yet come for Dulal’s family.
Bashir Ahmed Banshi, vice president of the North Dharala Motor Workers’ Union in Kurigram, said, “We stood by them until the burial. A decision will be taken after discussing with the family about how we can assist.”
Nur Alam, manager of the Bhurungamari counter of Ahsan Paribahan, said all expenses including bringing the body and burial were borne by the transport company. “We are always beside the family. A decision will be taken after sitting with them about what to do next,” he added, noting that the matter will be discussed at the owners’ association meeting on Monday.
Bhurungamari Upazila Executive Officer Amrit Dev Nath has given Tk10,000 to Dulal’s family. He told TIMES, “If there is any scope for assistance through the Department of Social Services, steps will be taken regarding that as well.”
