One death makes many dreams uncertain

All she remembers now is what her father used to suggest her to be in future. Ever since she heard of the news of her father’s death on Tuesday, the schoolgirl has badly been gripped by the absence of her father. “My father used to ask me study well so that I can be a doctor, every time he would phone me,” said Shahnaj Aziz Rita, daughter Corporal Mohammad Azizul Haq who died in a fatal landslide that killed at least 106 people in Rangamati the same day. Azizul also used to encourage her to stand by the poor as a doctor, Rita said. “Despite making me dream big, my father could not keep his promise to help me become a doctor,” said a wailing Rita. According to her, Aziz, aiming to make the dream come true, got her admitted in science group of class IX at a local school. But, who knew Aziz would fail to see the end of his dream? Hailing from Mymensingh’s Ishwarganj upazila, Aziz is among the four other army officials and members who were buried alive in the fatal landslide that killed 106 people in Rangamati. The rest deceased army men are Major Mohammad Mahfuzul Haq, Captain Md Tanvir Salam Shanto,  and soldier Md Shahin Alam. An army team of 16 members was clearing mud of landslide from on Chittagong-Rangamati Highway in Manikchhari on Tuesday morning when another landslide occurred around 11am, causing them to fall 30 feet under the highway. The incident felt the four army men dead, 10 others injured and one missing. On Thursday, the missing soldier Md Azizur Rahman was found dead in the same area. Meanwhile, Corporal Aziz’s wife Anwara Begum, a mother of two, became bedridden as she kept sobbing ever since the death news surfaced. Heavily stricken with grief, Anwara said: “I last talked with him (Aziz) over phone on Monday night.” “How do I alone raise my children now? How can make my daughter a doctor?” said Anwara with uncertainty growing in her eyes. Abul Hashim, the elder brother of Aziz, said the latter was supposed to retire from the army next April. “He (Aziz) had a plan to start business after his retirement and stay with his family,” Hashim said, adding, Aziz had been mulling of engaging his son Shakil in his business. Aziz was more focused on his daughter’s study as she is a bright student. Hashim demanded that the government employ her and bear the expenses of the family.