Eid turns to Mourning as Child killed in Cumilla Bus-Train crash

A nine-year-old girl, Sayyeda, who used to celebrate Eid with her family in Lakshmipur every year, has died in a tragic bus-train collision in Cumilla while travelling home for the festival.

Her body was brought to her village home on Sunday night from Cumilla Medical College Hospital, turning what was meant to be a joyful Eid into a period of mourning for the family.

Relatives said Sayyeda’s father, Siraj Uddaula, has long served as a khatib at a mosque in Faridpur, where he lives with his wife and children. The family would return to their village home in Lakshmipur during Eid holidays.

This year, they had planned to move into a newly built house and celebrate together. Instead, the family is now grieving the loss of their young daughter.

According to family members, the accident occurred around 3:00am on Saturday when a bus of Mamun Transport was crossing Padua Bazar rail crossing in Cumilla. A train struck the bus, leaving at least 12 people dead, including Sayyeda.

Sayyeda’s parents, Siraj Uddaula and Razia Begum, along with her elder sister Afnan (22), were seriously injured in the crash. They are currently undergoing treatment in Dhaka. Afnan remains in critical condition in the ICU.

Family members said the tragedy follows another loss—Siraj’s only son died of illness two years ago.

Originally from Kamalnagar upazila in Lakshmipur, Siraj had lost his home to river erosion and was building a new house in Bhabaniganj union. He had planned to move there with his family after Eid.

Relatives described the family’s grief as overwhelming. “She used to keep the house lively. Now her body has returned home,” one family member said.

The funeral will be held after her father returns, according to relatives.