Desk Report,
Nasimar spends her days looking after the clothes and shoes of her son who was shot dead
On August 4 last year, Saad Al Afnan (19) was shot dead during an anti-discrimination student movement in Lakshmipur. On that day, the entire city of Lakshmipur turned into a battlefield surrounding the quota reform movement. Twelve people, including four students, were killed and more than a hundred people were injured. When the word “son” Saad Al Afnan came up, Nasima Akhtar’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t believe that her only son was gone. She had carefully arranged everything for her son’s books, notebooks, clothes, and shoes at home. She spent her days with these.
Nasimar spends her days looking after the clothes and shoes of her son who was shot dead
On August 4 last year, Saad Al Afnan (19) was shot dead during an anti-discrimination student movement in Lakshmipur. On that day, the entire city of Lakshmipur turned into a battlefield surrounding the quota reform movement. Twelve people, including four students, were killed and more than a hundred people were injured. For six hours, the then Sadar Upazila Chairman and former District Jubo League President Salah Uddin and his forces opened fire on the students and the crowd.
The deceased Afnan had taken the HSC exam from the science department of Lakshmipur Victory College. His home is in Ward No. 4 of Lakshmipur town. Just two months before Afnan was killed, Nasimha’s husband Saleh Ahmed died of illness. After her husband’s death, Nasimha’s world revolved around her son. However, before she could mourn her husband’s death, she lost her son too. Recently, I went home and spoke to Nasimha Akhter. She said that she spends most of her time in her room alone with her son’s clothes, books and notebooks. She has carefully arranged the things used by her son in the house. She cannot imagine that her son is not there. Crying, Nasimha said, “At night, my chest bursts with tears. I can’t sleep. I have to take sleeping pills every day to sleep. I spend the night with my son’s picture on my chest.”
Nasima also said, “I keep his room exactly as it was before. His books, his clothes, even his last sandals. I know my son will not come again, but I still can’t believe it, how empty my heart has become.”
The other three students who were shot dead in Lakshmipur on August 4 last year are Md. Osman Patwari, Kaisar Hossain and Sabbir Hossain. Their relatives are hoping that the killers will be brought to justice.
Omar Faruk, the brother of the deceased Md. Osman Patwari, told Prothom Alo, “My mother still cannot speak properly after losing my younger brother. We hope that the killers will be brought to justice. But so far there has been no visible progress in the trial.”
Amir Hossain, the father of the deceased Sabbir Hossain, said that he could not forget his son for a moment. He demanded justice not only for the son’s killers, but also for everyone involved, including those who ordered it. Three cases were filed at Lakshmipur Sadar Police Station in connection with the murder of the four students. The main accused in all three cases is former district Jubo League president AKM Salah Uddin alias Tipu. However, most of the gunmen, including the main accused, are still at large.
When asked, Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Abdul Monnaf said that the police operation is underway to arrest the accused in the three cases. 150 people have already been arrested. Efforts are underway to recover the weapons used in the murders.
District Superintendent of Police Akhtar Hossain said that significant progress has been made in the investigation of the murder of four students. The charge sheets in these cases will be submitted to the court very soon.
How the incident began
Leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League took up positions in Madam area of Lakshmipur city. The students were in Jhumur area. Around 10 am, Awami League leaders and activists opened fire on the students. At that time, a chase and clash between the two sides began from North Tehmani to Jhumur in the city. The clash with the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League lasted for hours. At one stage, the Awami League leaders retreated.
Around 12 noon, hundreds of protesters stood in front of the house of former district Jubo League president AKM Salah Uddin. At that time, Salah Uddin and his men fired shotgun bullets at the protesters from the roof of the house until 5 pm. More than a hundred protesters were taken to the hospital with bullet wounds.
