I Still See My Two Sons Before My Eyes
The twin sons of Harun and Ishrat couple—Fahim and Noman have died after being infected with measles. Photo: Courtesy of family
“I have no assets to sell to arrange money. I have borrowed around six lakh taka. From friends, acquaintances, loans, even high-interest informal lending—nothing was left out. Even then, if I could have saved my children, I would have found peace. On the 16th of this month, they would have turned 14 months old,” said Harunur Rashid.
There are no words of consolation for Harun. Everyone around him can only listen in silence. A heavy stillness fills the house. Harun, a resident of Tikiapara in the Purba Khoiyachara area of Khaiyachhara Union in Mirsarai upazila, returned home empty-handed after losing his twin sons on Wednesday.
Both children were suffering from measles. On Tuesday night, the second twin, Abdullah Al Fahim, died at a newborn hospital in Narayanganj. On 22 May, Abdullah Al Noman had died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
The twins were born on 16 April last year. Before they even turned one, the struggle for survival began in early March for Harun and his wife Ishrat Jahan.
It became a cycle home from the hospital. On 8 March, Fahim developed fever and breathing difficulties and was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. He was treated for measles symptoms and later diagnosed with the disease. After about two weeks, he was taken home in slightly improved condition, but his condition worsened again, requiring re-admission. Noman also developed similar symptoms later and was admitted in mid-April.
After Noman’s death, Harun rushed Fahim to Dhaka in search of better treatment, admitting him to PG Hospital and later transferring him to an ICU in Narayanganj. Ultimately, Fahim could not be saved. Harun returned home the next day carrying his lifeless child. The two deaths were only 12 days apart. Fahim was buried after funeral prayers the same night at the family graveyard.
“I did everything I could. I kept my shop closed for three months. I have no land or property to sell. I tried to save my children through debt, but I couldn’t. I wanted to vaccinate them, but I couldn’t get the vaccine,” Harun told Agamir Somoy.
Ishrat Jahan has been left stunned with grief after losing her babies. Their six-year-old daughter Tabassum, cries for her brothers. Harun says he can still hear their faint voices, “I still see my two sons before my eyes, how can I forget them.”
Who will console Harun, Ishrat, and Tabassum? Even neighbors in the area are mourning the loss of the two infants.
