“My son’s dream was to get a government job… to be established. His dreams could not come true. He is no more.”
These words were uttered by Abdul Mannan, father of slain Ahsan Hasib Tamim, a brilliant student of Jagannath University's mathematics department.
Tamim was shot dead in the violence surrounding the quota reform movement on July 19. He was involved with Chhatra League politics at the university.
"We all took a nap together after having lunch on Friday. He suddenly got up and left. I don’t know if somebody called him or he went out on his own. I don't know... But my son never came back,” said Mannan, shaking with tears in his eyes.
He said he later got a phone call and heard Tamim had been shot. “I went to the hospital but my boy was no longer alive.”
Mannan, who works as a mechanic in Dhaka, said Tamim was the second of three brothers and had been talented and courageous from an early age.
The family hails from Lakshmipur but resides in Dhaka. “We don't have a house in the village to call our own. We don’t even go to our village much. My son hoped his younger brother would also get educated.”
Tamim’s mother is struggling to cope with the loss and frequently loses consciousness when she is asked about her son.
His friends and teachers are grieving as well.
Prof Md Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the mathematics department, expressing his condolences, said: "We are saddened by the untimely demise of Tamim. On behalf of the department, we will stand by Tamim's family and support them with several effective initiatives."
Dr Al Amin, the university's Student Welfare Director, said: "We have contacted Tamim's family and are making efforts to assist them. The department and the proctorial body will meet and cooperate with his family."
He also said that a list of injured students is being prepared to provide them with necessary assistance.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Sadeka Halim said: "We have contacted Tamim's family. The mathematics department will provide comprehensive support to his family from the university. The injured students are being given medical treatment."