“My father was a handsome man. We were proud of his sophisticated look but we could not see his face for the last time as it was disfigured brutally. We were not allowed to see his face. We have only seen his legs which were not covered by cloth.”
Dr Susmita Sarkar, second child of slain Advocate Chandan Sarkar, was telling about the last memory she had about her father.
“Mother did not want us to look at his face as we might not be able to erase that from our memory for the rest of life,” said Susmita as she started to sob.
“He was a man who tried to find peace in his whole life. We do not know why he has to leave us this way.”
Senior lawyer Chandan Sarkar and his driver Ibrahim were among the seven Narayanganj abductees who were killed later. Chandan did not have any political involvement or rival or criminal record, something believed to be the cause behind the murder of five others. Chandan and his chauffeur are believed to have been killed because they witnessed the abductions.
It took time for his family member to believe that Chandan was abducted. They were certain that if any group had abducted him, they would free him because of his clean image.
“I was in Dhaka. After hearing the news of abduction, I called him. Nobody picked up till 10pm,” said Bijoy Kumar Paul, son-in-law of Chandan.
Bijoy later requested one of their family acquaintances working at an intelligence agency to trace the phone. He was told that the cell phone was in Tejgaon, somewhere near Anik Tower.
Around 11:30pm, he rushed to Tejgaon police station and asked for help. Police dialled Chandan’s number but found it switched off.
“Police said they could not trace the phone as it was switched off. The officer was suspecting that the car had driven past Tejgaon and then went elsewhere,” Bijoy said.
Chandan’s family members, with the help of influential people, contacted RAB Director-General, State Minister for Home and also the ex-commanding officer of RAB.
“Everyone kept assuring us that the kidnappers will not do any harm to my father because he was a man with a clean image. They said my father would come back somehow,” he said.
“Among all we had contacted, Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad’s behaviour hurt us. As we asked him if they have picked up father, he lost his temper and asked us to leave RAB 11 office,” said Bijoy.
On Tuesday, they got the indication that Chandan and his driver had been killed.
Asked why they took ten days to file a case and why they did not name any accused, Bijoy said: “In the case filed by Nazrul’s wife, she did not mention names of my father-in-law and his driver name as assassinated. So we filed a separate case so that we can get justice.”
Chandan was born in april 23, 1952 at Ibrahimpur village in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria. In 1972, he got admitted in the mathematics department at Dhaka University. After completing both graduation and post-graduation studies, he tried to get a job. But as he had a greater sense of freedom, he failed to be stable in any job.
Chandan then began studying law at Dhaka University. Following completion of LLB, he started practicing in Narayanganj court. He was not only a lawyer but also a man who was thirsty for knowledge for his whole life.
“Father used study every day. I can hardly remember any day when I did not see him studying till the late hours of night. Often, he would study for the whole night,” said Susmita.
“Science, history, literature, novel, drama, religion – he was actually interested in every branch of knowledge. He would also inspire us to seek knowledge.”
Chandan Sarkar published two poetry books named “Kar Hate Rajdondo Manobik Hobe” and “Shit Borshar Keu Now”. A story book, a poetry book and two novels were also on their way to be published. “During the 1971 Liberation War, my father lost his father’s house. It saddened him and he expressed it in his literary work. He wanted to make a house in a quiet and calm area like the way he passed his childhood in Ibrahimpur village,” Susmita said.
“Apart from these, he loved to play flute. During our childhood, when there was a power cut, we would stop our study and my father would take us in his room. He would then play flute. When I close my eyes, I can still listen to that melody,” she added.
Chandan has four daughters. Of them, Sejuti Sarkar, the elder one, and Susmita finished their study from Kumudidni Medical College. Showti Sarkar, the third one, is studying law at a private university and the youngest one Shoptorshi is student of A-level whose final exam will start this month.
Chandan’s wife Orchona Sarker has virtually become speechless since her husband’s death.
This correspondent found an eerie silence prevailing all over the house yesterday.
A big portrait with a floral wreath was on Chandan’s reading table. A number of books remained scattered on the table.
