Field of Quarters Not Safe: Zayed dies under the wheels of a ministry vehicle
Baby Zayed, who lost his life under the wheels of a pajero jeep in a play field of a government quarter at Paikapara. Photo: Courtesy family.
It was the field of New C-Type government quarters in Paikpara of Mirpur-1. Around 12:30 pm on Saturday, two children, including Juti, were playing. Just in front of where they were standing, three-year-old child Abdullah Al Zayed was killed on Thursday afternoon when he was run over by a vehicle. The Pajero Sports vehicle (Dhaka-Gha-18-6048) ran him over.
The courtyard of the quarters, which was once filled with children's play and laughter, is now filled with grief. After the death of child Zayed, the question has arisen: is even the little play area inside a residential quarter not safe for children anymore?
It has been learned that the vehicle that ran over Zayed belongs to the Ministry of Education. The driver of the vehicle, Montu Khan, lived on the third floor of building No. 136 of the quarters. In the same building, on the ground floor, lived Shahin Hossain, an office assistant-cum-computer operator at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, with his family.
Zayed on his father's lap.
According to the case statement, the vehicle belongs to the Ministry of Education. Last Wednesday night, the driver drove for a long time and came home for lunch on Thursday noon. The accident occurred while he was rushing to go back to his duty after finishing his meal.
In this incident, Darus Salam Thana police have arrested the driver, Montu Khan. It was also reported that he was sent to court on Saturday in a case filed under the Road Act.
Sub-Inspector (SI) Anwar Hossain of Darus Salam Thana this correspondent that an investigation is ongoing into who the vehicle was allocated to and who was using it. Montu Khan has admitted the incident. He said the accident occurred due to his negligence.
Visiting the field of the quarters on Saturday, it was seen that children were playing just as before. But another familiar face was not with them. Child Juti, who was there, said, "Zayed used to play here where we are playing. A white-colored car went over Zayed's body. We used to play together. But today Zayed is not here."
In the child's simple words, a deep emptiness seems to be hidden. The field is there, the toys are there, the playmates are there — only Zayed is not.
Zayed's world was right in front of his home
Zayed's father, Shahin Hossain, lived with his family at the Paikpara New C-Type Quarters due to his job. They live in a flat on the ground floor of building No. 136. Because their home was on the ground floor, Zayed's world of play was the small space in front of the building. There he would sometimes play with sand, sometimes run around. His little childhood passed before his parents' eyes. On the day of the incident too, Zayed was playing with sand in front of the building. His father, Shahin Hossain, said he was about 50 meters away from the spot. At that time, while the white-colored vehicle was turning, it went over his son.In a single moment of a vehicle turning, all the dreams of a family seemed to stop. The child around whom the parents had countless plans, the child whose smile they waited to see every day — that very child had to be lost before their eyes.Lack of Safety Even Inside the QuartersQuarters resident Shaho said, "Zayed was a very small child, only three years old. He did not have the knowledge or intelligence to understand what should be done and what should not. The person driving the vehicle should have understood that this is a residential area. Children will play here, there may be children behind the vehicle too."Toddler Zayed is missed by playmates. He said, "Vehicles are prohibited from entering the quarters. Yet someone drove a vehicle there without any kind of caution and ran over a child."Residents allege that extra caution is needed when driving inside a residential area, keeping in mind children's movement and play. Yet such a tragic accident occurred in that very place that should have been safe.According to sources, driver Montu Khan came to the quarters for lunch on Thursday noon after driving for a long time on Wednesday night. The accident occurred while he was leaving again with the vehicle after finishing his meal.Some locals alleged that the driver was talking on a mobile phone while turning the vehicle. Others claimed that he was sleepy due to driving for a long time. However, no statement was available from the Paikpara New C-Type Quarters Residents' Welfare Association on the matter. When asked, several residents said they did not know about it and avoided the question.Visiting the spot, it was seen that driver Montu Khan and his family members lived on the third floor of the same building. After the incident, the environment of the building was quite silent. Two flats on the south and west sides of the ground floor were seen locked. Although the presence of people could be sensed inside Montu's family flat on the third floor, no one opened the door despite repeated calls. From the first floor to the third floor of the same building — on one side the grief of a child's death, on the other silence surrounding the accused driver's family. An uncomfortable situation seemed to have spread throughout the building.A child of just three years. Whose world consisted of his parents, his own home, and a few playmates. At an age when he should have been preparing to go to school, learning new words, growing up playing with friends — at that very age his life came to a stop.Zayed's death is not just an irreparable loss for one family; it has also raised a big question about children's safety in residential areas. If a child's life is at risk even in a place that parents consider a safe shelter, in the courtyard in front of the home where they let their children play without worry, then where is the guarantee of a safe childhood?
