Shuvosangho, a social welfare platform of Bashundhara Group, has provided food assistance to the families of five persons killed during the recent Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Bogura.

The victims, Abdul Mannan, 58, a rickshaw puller, Ripon Mia, 38, a day labourer, Mahfuzar Rahman, 31, a garment worker, Kamar Uddin, 40, a rickshaw puller, and Shimul Mandal Moti, 45, a tailor, were residents of Bogura Sadar upazila.

The pelting of brick chips was on between the agitating students and the police forces in Borogola that day. Unfortunately, Mannan got trapped in it and sustained bullet injuries. At one stage, he met his tragic end on the spot.

After his death, widow Hasna Begum, along with seven children, has been passing days amid acute food and financial crises. On Information, Shuvosangho volunteers reached her house and handed over food aids including rice, lentils, oil, onion, potato, flour and some vegetables to her.

As Hasna became speechless and shocked, her neighbour Jahanara Begum said she lived in a shaky house with her children, including three daughters. It is tough for her to manage the family.

Ripon used to run his family by selling his labour. As there was no work, he went to Bogura town to see the student movement on 4 August and ill-fated Ripon sustained bullet injuries and died on the spot.

Ripon’s wife Sabina Begum expressed her concern about running her family with her little son, as they have no land, property, or anything else to generate income. Her son is too little to work. “I do not know how my son and I will survive,” she said.

Mahfuzar Rahman, who used to work in a garment factory in Dhaka, returned home due to the closure of his factory amid the students’ movement.

He went to Bogura town on 5 August and sustained bullet injuries. He was declared dead in a local hospital. Following the death, his wife Ripa Akhter plunged into an acute crisis with her daughter who is around six years old.

“Now where will I go with my minor daughter? I have lost my lone source of income. Who will shelter us?” she said.

Kamar Uddin used to drive a rickshaw to provide for his three children, his mother, and his pregnant wife in Bogura town.

He left his house with his rickshaw on 5 August and unfortunately received bullets. He breathed his last in Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College on the same day.

Following the death, his wife Kamal Begum fell into a dire strait with a daughter, two sons and an elderly mother-in-law. She has been provided with food aid from Bashundhara and became overwhelmed after receiving the support.

Tailor Moti Mia’s daughter is a graduate student and his son is an eighth grader. He was killed in bullet injuries on 5 August when he was going to his workplace in Bogura town.

His old mother Mokseda Begum said, “I could not think that my son would return home after being killed in a bullet hit. Now I am worried about how the study of my two grandsons and a granddaughter will continue.”

Bashundhara handed over food aid to the family for a month through Shuvosangho. Bashundhara Group also assured her that it would shoulder her family's responsibilities.

Prof Harun-ar-Rashid of Bogura Adarsha College, Ashfak-ur-Rahman Chandan, acting general secretary of Shuvosangho Bogura district, along with Raihan Siddique Sajal, Meghla, Shanta, Sani, and other activists of the voluntary platform, visited victims’ families to hand over the food aid.

Bd pratidin English/Lutful Hoque