The day started like any other.
It was Friday and constable Parvez Mia was busy controlling traffic on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Gouripur crossing of Comilla’s Daudkandi upazila.
All of a sudden, there was a loud noise mixed with screams. Parvez heard from passers-by that a bus had fallen into a roadside ditch nearby.
Faced with a situation like this, many would have panicked or called for help. But without wasting any time, the 28-year-old started rushing to the spot.
Not only did Parvez reach the spot of the accident in no time, he also rescued many of the passengers. His act of bravery and quick wit eventually helped save lives of around 15 of them, including women and children.
“After hearing the news, I didn’t waste any moment and ran to the spot. I saw that almost half of the bus was underwater, leaning precariously on one side. Some of the passengers were trying to get out of the vehicle through the front windows.”
“I jumped into the water and tried to help them get out. But there were also female passengers with children in the back, who were stuck and crying for help,” he added.
“In a situation like this, I only had one option. I started breaking the window glasses as quick as I could. I broke around five to six of them with my baton.”
Afterwards, he went inside the bus and was able to rescue the female passengers. “There was also a woman with an eight-month-old baby whom I helped get out of the vehicle through a window. She was very scared,” he said.
By that time, others joined Parvez to save the passengers. Eventually all of them were brought out safely and only a few suffered minor injuries.
Out of around 35 passengers, 15 were stuck abroad the bus while another 20 were able to get out by themselves.
Hailing from Gazaria of Munshiganj, Parvez is the son of freedom fighter Abul Kashem. Eldest of the four siblings, he joined the highway police department last year.
The bus — Matlab Express — was heading to Matlab of Chandpur from Dhaka. Around 11:00am on the day, its driver lost control over the vehicle near a foot-over bridge in Gouripur and fell into the ditch. The driver got out of the vehicle and fled.
Parvez’s bravery and timely act not only saved lives of many, but also did not go unnoticed.
Poritosh Ghosh, superintendent of Comilla Highway Police, declared a reward of Tk 10,000 for him. Also, the headteacher of Pennai Government Primary School, Selina Rahman, declared a Tk 5,000 reward.
A press briefing was organised yesterday morning at the office of the superintendent of Comilla Highway Police to commend Parvez for his bravery. At the briefing, the deputy inspector general of Highway Police declared to give Parvez Tk 50,000 as a reward.
Poritosh Ghosh, superintendent of Comilla Highway Police, said, “We will write to the police headquarters recommending Parvez for the President Police Medal (PPM).”
Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Daudkandi Highway Police Station, said they felt proud of their colleague. His courage and bravery brought them honour.
“His brave and timely act has saved many lives. He is truly a hero.”
Report: The Daily Star
