MP Monirul weeps, apologizes over Apratim murder, asks 'What kind of country have we built?'

Monirul Haq Chowdhury, Member of Parliament for the Cumilla-6 constituency, expressed his deep grief and sought forgiveness over murder of 13-year-old schoolboy Ishayat Shahriar Apratim in Cumilla. Speaking to the victim's family and reporters after Apratim's body was recovered near Cumilla University on Saturday, the MP broke down in tears as he asked for pardon.

Expressing his sorrow, MP Monirul Haq Chowdhury told reporters, "I am ashamed, I apologize. As the MP of this area, I am ashamed. We could not even protect such innocent children. People die, but I have never seen such a tragic death. An innocent little child... I draw the attention of the Honorable Home Minister and the Prime Minister to identify the culprit immediately and execute the trial within the next 90 days. I will go and speak to them now."

In a tearful voice, the MP added, "I never imagined that a child could be killed like this for an iPhone. What kind of country have we built? As a freedom fighter, I am ashamed. I apologize to the nation. I pray for the departed soul of this boy."

On Saturday afternoon, police recovered the body of 13-year-old Apratim from a jungle adjacent to Cumilla University. A seventh-grade student at Cumilla Border Guard Public School, Apratim was the only son of Professor Dr. Nahida Begum. Their family resides in the Kotbari area near the university.

When MP Monirul Haq Chowdhury visited the spot and went to their home to offer condolences, Apratim's mother lamented, "What wrong did my son do... I just want to know what my son's fault was. What country am I living in? Is this a country where if a boy steps out, he gets killed?"

Apratim went missing after leaving home on Friday afternoon. His mother had posted on Facebook that he left with his iPhone to take photos with friends without informing her.

Failing to find him, his father filed a General Diary (GD) with the police station. Following the report, an alert was also issued through Moon Alert to trace the missing child.

Twenty hours later, on Saturday afternoon, Apratim's body was discovered in a jungle in the Dakshin Sananda area, near the 'Magic Paradise' amusement park beside the south gate of Cumilla University. The iPhone was not found with the body.

A few laborers cutting bamboo in the woods spotted Apratim's bloody body and alerted others.

Rakibul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station, said, "Initially, we suspect that the murder took place over the mobile phone." Confirming the detention of a suspect named Tuhin, the OC stated that he is currently being interrogated.

Cumilla District Superintendent of Police Md. Anisuzzaman told reporters at the scene that police have initiated an investigation to determine whether the murder was solely for the iPhone or if there was another motive. He assured that law enforcement will continue working until the actual perpetrators are arrested.

Apratim's body has been sent to the morgue at Cumilla Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.