Five year old Hanifa still waits for father to return
Wife and two children of banana vendor Mirajul Islam, who was killed in Rangpur on July 19 during the 2024 uprising. Photo: Agamir Somoy
Five year old Md. Hanifa still believes that one day his father will come back. Pointing to a star in the sky, he tells his mother, “Mom, that star in the sky is my father. Dad, come down and give me a kiss on my forehead.”
Whenever he hears even a slight sound outside the house, he runs to open the door, thinking his father has returned. But even after two years, no one has been able to make him understand that a single bullet took his father away forever.
Mirajul Islam, a banana vendor, was killed by police gunfire during clashes surrounding the quota reform movement in Rangpur on July 19, 2024. His wife, Nazmim Islam, said, “The pain of not being able to make my younger son understand the truth about his father’s death is now greater than the grief of losing my husband.”
Mirajul Islam lived with his wife, two sons and elderly mother in the New Jummapara area of Rangpur city. His elder son, Meherab Hossain Najil (17), is a 10th grade student at Amashu Progoti School and College. His younger son, Hanifa, is now five years old. Mirajul earned a living by selling bananas at Rangpur City Market.
Recalling the memories, Nazmim Islam said, “Our younger son Hanifa, who was born 12 years after our first child, was adored by everyone. Eating with his father, sleeping at night with his head resting on his father’s shoulder and asking him to bring chocolates were part of his daily routine. Mirajul always tried his best to fulfill all of his son’s wishes.”
The day of the incident was the couple’s 18th wedding anniversary. Nazmim Islam said Mirajul returned from the market in the morning, took a bath and had lunch. Later, he bought a chicken and rice for pilaf from the market and told the family they would celebrate their wedding anniversary together that night. After slaughtering the chicken himself, he went to the banana wholesale market. Although he was supposed to return home quickly after finishing work, he never came back.
On the afternoon of July 19, as he was leaving the banana wholesale market in front of Jororez Market, a bullet struck his left side. Local people rushed him to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, but he died from excessive blood loss. That night, the anniversary meal was ready at home. Instead, Mirajul’s body was brought back.
According to Nazmim Islam, “I still have no answer to why an innocent man who went to the market to earn a living became the victim of gunfire.” She demanded justice for the killing. She also said that, as the family of a July martyr, they are currently receiving a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000.
Mirajul’s mother, Ambia Khatun, also demanded justice for her son’s killing and called for securing the future of her grandsons.
On the same day, Sajjad Hossain (30), a vegetable vendor from the Kamalkachna area of Rangpur city, was also killed by police gunfire. He supported his family by selling vegetables from a van and is survived by his wife and their five year old daughter. On the afternoon of July 19, he was shot and killed in the Kailashranjan School Lane while returning after purchasing goods from City Market. His wife, Kohinur Begum, also demanded a speedy trial.
On July 19, 2024, four people were killed by police gunfire during clashes surrounding the quota reform movement in different parts of Rangpur city, including City Market. They were Sajjad Hossain, Mirajul Islam, Moslem Uddin Milon (40), of Ganeshpur Bakultala, and Abdullah Al Taher (30), of East Shalban. The previous day, on July 18, autorickshaw driver Manik Mia (35), of East Ghaghatpara, was also killed by police gunfire.
All of those killed were low income working people. Some were banana vendors, some vegetable vendors, some laborers and one was an autorickshaw driver. Many others were injured during those two days. The memories of those days continue to haunt the victims’ families and the people of Rangpur.
A total of 41 cases have been filed in Rangpur over the killings and injuries. Among them, only the case over the killing of martyr Abu Sayed has been tried by the International Crimes Tribunal. There has been no significant progress in the legal proceedings of the other cases. The families of those killed have called for the investigations to be completed quickly and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
