CHATTOGRAM, Sept 25, 2024 (BSS) - Md Faruk, 32, an employee at a furniture shop in Shulakbahar, Chattogram, was killed during a clash among Chhatra League, police and the agitators on July 16.

Faruk, a furniture shop technician hailing from Sharifpur village under Begumganj upazila of Noakhali district, was returning to work from lunch in the Muradpur area.

Faruk's wife Sumi Akter, 25, now stares at a bleak future with her two children at the death of her only bread earner husband. Now Sumi Akhter, their son and daughter face an uncertain future.

Sumi could not hold back her tears as she recounted the tragic incident on July 16 when her husband Faruk was fatally shot dead on that day in a clash between Chhatra League, police and the agitators during the quota reform movement in the city's Muradpur area.

He went to see what was going on there on the way to his workplace. Faruk was killed after being shot in the chest when the police chased the protesters during the quota reform movement.

However, he was declared dead by on-duty doctor at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. On July 17, as his dead body reached his rented house at Lalkhanbazar, a pall of gloom descended on the area. Later, Faruk was buried on the day following a namaz-e-janaza.

The poor family members of Faruk have been passing their days without food at his rented tin-shed house since Faruk's killing.

Talking to Sumi Akter, the deceased wife of Faruk, said Faruk was a technician of SS furniture shop in the city's Sholakbahar area. She has a 12-year-old daughter Faria Akter and a seven-year-old son Shahin Akter.

She has become helpless after the death of her husband. He lamented what will happen to her now.

"I have lost my husband. Now who will see my children, who will teach them, feed them and take their responsibility," she said.

Sumi Akhter recounted their 17-year marriage and Faruk's eight years of work at the furniture store. "Faruk was always worried about the education of our children," she said.

She is also broken with the uncertain future of her children. She can't think what will happen to her family now, who will take their responsibility.

Sumi said they have been living in a tin-shed rented house with their family members. Her husband is the sole bread earner in their family. How will their family run now?

Faruk's neighbors said that they (family of Faruk) urgently need financial assistance to maintain their life and livelihood.

"My son, our sole earner of the family, was killed by police brutally in the July 16 mass uprising. How will we run our family now?" Md Dulal, father of the deceased Faruk, said.

"I will not get my son back now. I am more worried about the future of my grandchildren," said Abdul Dulal.

Abdul Dulal, a day labour, said, "Faruk was crossing the road after having lunch at a hotel in Muradpur when he was shot around 3:00pm on July 16. He did not belong to any party or participate in the movement. Still, my son had to die," Abdul Dulal said.

Faruk, the second of four brothers and two sisters, was a pillar of support for his family.

He appealed to the government and the affluent people of the society to stand by the family members of Faruk.

He demanded proper justice and punishment for the killer of Faruk.