Nayeem, a 22-year-old bus helper’s life was tragically snatched from him when arsonists set fire to a bus in Demra on Sunday morning -- the day the opposition BNP called a dawn-to-dusk hartal.
The young man, who spent most days of his days hanging from buses to earn money, was the sole breadwinner of his family, who live in Barisal.
He started working four years ago, and according to family members, he slept inside the bus only to save money.
When the incident took place, Nayeem was fast asleep inside the “Achim Paribahan” bus, which was one of the first fire incidents reported that day.
Along with Nayeem, was the bus driver Rabiul Islam, 25.
Luckily, Rabiul managed to get out of the bus, but he sustained 17% surface-level burn injuries. He is currently being treated at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Nayeem’s uncle, Al Amin, said that the responsibility of the whole family was on the shoulders of 22-year-old. His old parents are devastated to lose him.
Al Amin also said that politics is something they neither care about nor actively engage in. To them, both the Awami League and BNP are indistinguishable, so why should ordinary individuals like Nayeem lose their lives in the name of political events?
Nayeem hailed from Charmonai Union in Barisal and was the eldest child of Alam Chowkidar and Parvin Begum. He had two younger brothers and a sister.
The opposition BNP called a dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting the attacks on its grand rally at Naya Paltan on Sunday.
The day saw several incidents of arson and vandalism, prompting heightened vigilance from law enforcement agencies.
