EXCLUSIVE
A university professor was killed in front of his wife and children when a mysterious object crashed through the windshield of his car as the family was returning home after a day picking cherries for Christmas.
Dr Majharul Talukder, 49, an assistant professor at the University of Canberra, was driving along Burley Griffin Way in Galong in New South Wales Hilltops region on Sunday night when the deadly object flew away a caravan traveling in the opposite direction.
The unknown object crashed through the front windscreen and hit Dr Talukder in the head, killing him before emergency services could reach the scene.
His wife, 48, and two daughters, aged 16 and 13, who were traveling in the same vehicle were not injured, but were taken to Canberra Hospital in a state of shock.
In an online tribute, Canberra’s Bangladeshi community revealed Dr Talukder had spent the day cherry picking in nearby Harden at an event organized by a charity and was returning home when the tragedy unfolded.
‘Dr. Majhar was a highly esteemed assistant professor at the University of Canberra and a dedicated supporter of the Islamic School of Canberra and Belconnen Masjid. His family members are unharmed at this time,” the post reads.
‘We express our deepest condolences to the family. We pray to the Almighty to grant him Jannatul Firdaus and give strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss.’
Dr Majharul Talukder, 49 (pictured), was an assistant professor at the University of Canberra’s business school.
Online tributes have continued to flow towards Dr Talukdar, with devastated friends describing him as “determined”, “hard-working” and “pious”.
A spokesperson for the University of Canberra (UC) said Dr Talukdar was a “highly respected” member of the UC community.
“During his 16-year tenure, Assistant Professor Talukder made a significant contribution to UC through his teaching and research collaborations and will be remembered as a kind and dedicated academic,” they said.
His friend and former colleague Md. Saidul Islam said he had “thousands of memories” with him.
“Determination, hard work and continuous perseverance are the key to success, I have seen that in him a hundred times and I have given his example in many places,” he said.
‘He was extraordinary, gentle, beneficial and a soul dedicated to religion. He loved me so much that he often told me to settle in Australia. I also liked him very much and loved him with all my heart for Allah.’
His friend Abdul Jalil said he became close to Dr Talukdar while they were both working at a university in Malaysia.
“He was very steadfast and dedicated to achieving his goal in life and above all, he was very pious to Allah,” he wrote.
A 49-year-old man died on Burley Griffin Way in Galong (pictured) after an object fell from a caravan and penetrated its windscreen.
‘From Malaysia, he went to Germany and came back to Malaysia, then he went to the US and again he came back to Malaysia and then he went to Australia to do (a) PhD. degree and established there as a dedicated academic at the University of Canberra.
The man, 32, who was towing the caravan was not injured during the incident.
He was transported to Harden Hospital for mandatory testing.
Accident Investigation Unit officers have spent time examining the crime scene.
Police investigations into the incident continue.
Anyone with information, dash cam or mobile phone footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.