There were two Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates among five people killed during the quota reform movement in Barisal. All of them hail from Jhalakathi, local representatives have confirmed.
Two of the deceased were buried in Jhalakathi Sadar, two in Nalchiti and one in Rajapur Upazila.
Of the deceased, Kamal Hossain Sabuj, 40, hails from Binoykathi area of Jhalokathi Sadar Upazila. He was a car driver in Dhaka. Sabuj was shot dead in Jatrabari area on July 19.
Twenty-three-year-old Hridoy Howladar was a ready-made garment (RMG) worker. He hails from Shekerhat. He was shot dead on July 19.
Hailing from Mallikpur area of Nalchiti Upazila, Selim Talukdar, 28, used to work at a garment factory. He was shot in Badda on July 18 and died at a hospital in Dhaka on July 31.
Of the two students, Monir Hesen, 18, hails from Balaibari area of Rajapur Upazila. He was killed in Shahjadpur area of the capital.
Another student, Naim Howladar, 17, hails from Nalchiti. He was shot and killed in Jatrabari area on July 19.
Relatives of RMG official Selim said that, on July 18, he left his house in the morning to go to his factory in Narayanganj. When he went near BRAC University, he got caught up in a clash. At around 11:30pm, he was shot in the head, chest, and back.
He was rushed to Mugda Medical College and Hospital first. From there, someone informed his mother of the incident. The relatives rushed to the hospital after receiving the news.
Seeing the severe condition of the patient, the relatives visited different hospitals but did not find any vacant Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
At the same time, the relatives complained that the hospital authorities refused to admit the patient due to fear of administrative harassment.
The next day, the relatives admitted Selim to the ICU of Dhanmondi Popular Hospital. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment there on the night of July 31, and the doctor issued his death certificate on the morning of August 1.
Relatives said that Selim got married about a year ago. He completed his graduation from BGME University of Fashion and Technology two and a half years ago.
Later, he started working as an assistant merchandiser.
When asked whether the family would file a case, Selim's younger sister Soma said: "We do not want to go through any legal procedure at the moment to avoid trouble. It will not bring our brother back.
Murad Ali, OC of Nalchiti police station, said: “I learnt that Selim and a person named Naim died while being treated at a hospital in Dhaka due to gunshot wounds.”
Meanwhile, Kamal Hossain alias Sabuj used to drive a vehicle of private television station Channel i.
On hearing the news of his death, his brother-in-law Ripon Howladar arrived in Dhaka and took the body to the village home.
He said that on Saturday morning, Kamal Hossain went out to have breakfast in Badda and fell in the middle of a clash. He died on the spot after being shot in the head.
Ripon said: "My nephews and nieces have lost their father, and my sister has become a widow. I can't bear their tears anymore.”
Sadia Begum (Ranu), wife of Kamal Hossain alias Sabuj, said: “These three boys and girls have now become orphans. Where do I go with them? Now who will take care of them?”
Kamal Hossain's village home is in Balakdia village of Binoykathi union of Jhalokathi Sadar upazila. His father's name is Munsoor Howladar.
On Monday morning, Kamal was buried at his father-in-law's house in Agarbari area of Sadar Upazila. Shahidul Islam, OC of Sadar police station, confirmed the matter.
Besides, Ataur Rahman, OC of Rajapur Police Station, said that the bullet-ridden body of a student named Monir Hossain of Dhaka's BF Shaheen College was buried in Balabari area.
