Md Mobarak Hossain. Photo : Collected

KISHOREGANJ, April 18, 2025 (BSS) – Two-and-a-half-year-old Adiba clings to hope with the belief that her father Md Mobarak Hossain will soon return with chips for her because he promised to buy her a packet of chips when he left home.

But this innocent hope hides a tragic reality as her father will never return home with chips.

Mobarak, a 32-year-old electric shop worker and the sole breadwinner for his family, was fatally “shot dead by police” on July 19 in the Rayerbag area of Jatrabari during the anti-discrimination student movement that successfully ousted autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina, ending the nearly 16-year fascist regime on August 5.

Growing up in extreme financial hardship after his father -- Md Abul Hashem of Karimganj municipality of the district -- remarried and left them along with his mother Jamena Khatun and his seven-month-old brother Mosharraf Hossain, Mobarak assumed family responsibilities from the age of seven.

He had been living with his family, including his wife Sheuli Begum (Shanto), daughter Adiba and his mother and younger brother, in a rented house in the capital Dhaka’s Rayerbagh area of Jatrabari and worked at an electronics shop to support them.

Recalling the fateful day, his family members said since it was Friday, Mobarak returned from Jummah prayers and had lunch with his family members. While taking rest with his daughter Adiba, his daughter demanded for a packet of chips. To fulfill his daughter’s wish, Mubarak went out of the house.

“As soon as my brother went to the front of our house, a bullet fired by police struck him and he immediately fell on the ground,” Mobarak’s grief-stricken brother Mosharraf said recalling the tragic day.

Mosharraf said he and the locals immediately took his brother to a nearby hospital. But the doctors of that hospital referred Mobarak to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where the duty doctors declared him dead.

Describing the hardships they faced in bringing their brother's body from the hospital, Mosharraf said, “Bringing the body back from Dhaka Medical was a nightmare. The hospital did not want to release the body without clearance from Rayerbagh police station. 

We finally received his body late Saturday night with the help of Shahbagh Police.”

Though Mobarak died on Friday, Mosharraf said, police interference delayed the process as such his body was taken to Karimganj on late Saturday night. Mobarak was laid to eternal rest at the village graveyard on Sunday (July 21) following his namaj-e-janaza.

Mosharraf said after burying his brother, when they went to file a case at Rayerbagh Police Station, they came to know that the police had already filed a case against him (Mobarak).

“What a surprise! Though my elder brother Mobarak was killed in the police firing, the police had filed a case against my brother! Just because my brother had a beard, they accused him of being linked to Jamaat-Shibir. Police warned us that if we argue over filing a case with them, we would be at risk too,” he recalled the inhumane approach of the law enforcement agency members.

Seeking justice for his brother's killing, Mobarak said, “My brother was our guardian. We want justice for killing my brother. If we get help from the government, we will be able to file a case in this regard”.

He sought government help for Mobarak’s little girl.

While talking to BSS, Mobarak’s grieving mother, Jamenna Khatun (50), broke into tears.

“I demand capital punishment of the killers in my life time,” she said.

Mobarak’s wife Sheuli said they lost their first child (daughter) a few years back and Adiba was their much-desired child.

“My husband adored Adiba the most. He never said no to her . . . therefore, when she wanted to eat chips, he immediately went out to buy chips for her. But he never returned as he was shot dead by police right outside the shop soon after he reached there,” she said tearfully.

About their financial hardship, Sheuli said she now stares at a bleak future with her only daughter. 

“My mother-in-law and other family members are also helpless. I urge the government to take responsibility for our family,” she said along with demanding justice for her husband’s death.

Karimganj Upazila BNP publicity secretary, Habibur Rahman Biplob, said they have taken responsibility of the families of those martyred, killed in 2024 July Uprising.

“We will remain beside them in any difficulty. Our party BNP has already provided financial assistance to Mobarak’s family,” he added.

Mobarak’s family also received financial assistance from Jamaat-e-Islami.