Cox’s Bazar, June 29 (V7N) - Two tragic incidents shook Cox’s Bazar district on Sunday, claiming the lives of a 14-year-old madrasa student in a road accident in Ukhiya and a 26-year-old alleged robber who was beaten and hacked to death by villagers in Ramu.

On Sunday around 12:00 PM on June 29, a madrasa student, Iffat Sadia Rimu (14), was killed after being struck by a passenger minibus operated by the Shimanto Paribahan transport service on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Shahid ATM Jafar Alam Highway. The accident occurred near the Rice Mill area at the northern station of Palongkhali Bazaar in Ukhiya Upazila.

According to eyewitnesses, the bus — registered under number Cox's Bazar J-11-0387 and operated by Tarek Traders — was en route to Teknaf when it first hit a battery-run auto-rickshaw (locally known as a TomTom). Rimu, who was a passenger in the TomTom, sustained critical injuries.

Locals rushed her to the nearby MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) Mother and Child Hospital in Goymara, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Rimu was a resident of Uttar Palongkhali and a student of class eight at Khadijatul Kobra (RA) Girls’ Dakhil Madrasa. She was the daughter of the late Saber Ahmed.

Confirming the incident, Sub-Inspector (SI) Azizur Rahman of Shahpori Highway Police Station said the deceased’s body was recovered and an official inquest report was prepared. The bus involved in the accident has been seized, though the driver remains absconding.

“The incident is under investigation, and legal action is underway. The law and order situation remains stable,” SI Rahman added.

The tragic death has cast a pall of mourning over the Palongkhali area.

Alleged Robber Lynched by Mob in Ramu

In a separate incident earlier the same day, Abdul Mannan (26) — reportedly a member of the notorious “Moson Bahini” robbery gang — was killed by a mob in Ramu’s Khuniapalang Union. The incident took place around 10:30 AM in the Kombonia village.

According to Inspector Mohammad Farid, the investigation officer at Ramu Police Station, Mannan allegedly attempted to sexually assault a local young woman after forcefully entering her home. When she resisted, he stabbed her with a knife.

Hearing the woman’s screams, nearby villagers rushed to the scene. As Mannan attempted to flee, the mob apprehended him and proceeded to beat and hack him to death.

Law enforcement, including army and police officials, later visited the scene. Mannan’s body has been sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Inspector Farid confirmed that multiple cases — including murder, robbery, and abduction — were filed against Mannan. His father and three brothers are also accused of involvement in organized robbery activities.

SM Farid, President of Khuniapalang Union BNP, stated, “Moson Ali and his sons have operated an armed robbery gang for years, terrorizing homes and roads. The locals were fed up with their tyranny.”

Just two days prior, on Friday, villagers held a three-hour blockade on the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Highway demanding the arrest of Moson Bahini members. Mannan’s death occurred in the wake of that protest.

Community Reactions and Ongoing Investigations

Both incidents have left deep scars on their respective communities. In Ukhiya, grief and anger surround the death of a young student, while in Ramu, many see the lynching as the result of years of frustration with unchecked crime.

Police have launched separate investigations into both cases. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and let justice proceed through legal channels.

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