Five days have passed but police are yet to trace the driver or the bus that killed Yeasin, who lost nine members of his family in a fire that broke out in the Bihari camp in the capital’s Pallabi almost three months ago.
Only Yeasin and his daughter Farzana survived the fire, but the man met a tragic end on Saturday when he was hit by a bus near Purabi Cinema Hall while on his way to buy medicine for his sick daughter Farzana.
For Farzana, the hope of having a good treatment is fading away in the wake of Yeasin’s death. She has taken shelter at a relative’s house in Pallabi.
Yeasin’s cousin Md Alam filed a case with Pallabi police station claiming that the death of Farzana’s father was a premeditated killing and it was not a road accident. He told the Dhaka Tribune that a bus of ATC Paribahan hit Yeasin and he was killed because he was the plaintiff in the Bihari camp fire case.
Police sources said, Altaf Hossain, a leader of Dhaka city Jubo League (north) who lives in Pallabi, is the owner of ATC Paribahan. Investigators also came to know Jubo League men were involved in the fire incident that claimed all those lives.
Altaf told the Dhaka Tribune that someone might have set up the fire incident to frame him.
“I have been in politics for a long time and there are a number of people who are not happy with me,” he said.
“I urged police to find the driver of the bus that killed Yeasin. Everything will be clear if there is a fair investigation,” he added.
Police have obtained a video clip of the bus crash recorded by two witnesses on the spot. This, police say, will be used as a major clue in the investigation.
On June 14, nine members of Yeasin’s family were killed in a fire at the Bihari camp. Yeasin filed a case following the incident but police have not made any arrest to date. Farzana is now the only survivor of the 11-member family.
“I do not know why the Almighty took away all my family members,” Farzana told the Dhaka Tribune. “I want nothing but punishment for the perpetrator responsible for the death of my family members.”
Requesting anonymity, an official of the Detective Branch of police investigating the case said they have obtained the names of people who might have had a hand in the incident by questioning at least 40 people in Kalshi.
Saiful Islam, additional deputy commissioner of DB police, said a number of accused had been identified and the charge sheet would be submitted shortly.
Md Kamal Hossain, assistant commissioner of police of Pallabi division, said a thorough probe was underway and police were also looking for the driver of the bus that killed Yeasin.
“The real criminals would face action,” he added.
