Two people from Kushtia’s Kumarkhali upazila were killed when a building they used to work at was torched during the quota reform movement in Chittagong Road area of Narayanganj last Saturday.
The deceased, Abdus Salam (24), was working at a branch of Dutch-Bangla Bank on the second floor of a ten-story building in the city. The fire reportedly broke out during the quota reform movement protests on Saturday afternoon, resulting in extensive smoke inhalation that proved fatal for those trapped inside.
The body of Abdus Salam was brought to his ancestral home in Kumarakhali upazila’s Char Bhabanipur village on Tuesday.
Surviving family members include his widow, Maria Khatun (20), their only child, Mahim, and his mother Buljan Khatun and elder brother, Alamin (25), a third-year student at Rajbari Government College. The family has appealed for justice in the case, demanding a fair trial for those responsible for the incident.
Salam's mother, Buljan Khatun, said “My son is no more. Now, I have to run the household with the meager savings and the support of my eldest son.”
Salam’s only child Mahim, aged around 1.5 years old, still doesn’t know his father is no more. His wife, Maria, has become ill from the news.
His brother Brother Alamin said, "On Saturday afternoon, Salam suddenly called me and told me that the building he worked at was on fire. He said nothing can be seen in the smoke.”
“My brother told me, ‘you take care of my wife, child and mother.’ Then the phone went off. Despite many efforts, I could not find him. Later last Sunday it was known that the brother is no more,” he said.
He also said that his younger brother's money used to cover all the expenses of their family including his studies. “I don't know what to do now. I demand justice and compensation.”
The incident also claimed the life of Selim Mondal (28).
Shova Khatun, his wife, said that the last conversation they had was over the phone on Saturday afternoon. “A lot of smoke- he kept saying on the phone. Look after my father, mother and daughter, my husband said.”
“Who will take care of us now? Where do I go with our three-year-old daughter Humaira?” She demanded justice and compensation for her husband's death.
Md. Faisal Mondal (18), Md. Parvez, Abdul Hamid and Mahbub Biswas, who were also trapped in the fire at the Dutch-Bangla Bank building. Among the injured, Hamid is undergoing treatment in ICU at a hospital in Dhaka, while Faisal, Parvez, and Mahbub are recuperating at home.
Faisal described the chaotic scenes during the fire, recalling the helplessness and desperation of those trying to escape. "We heard gunfire outside the building in the afternoon. A student was shot dead by police firing in that area. Later the building was torched. The air was thick with smoke, making it difficult to see," said Faisal Mondal, recounting the ordeal.
SM Mikail Islam, upazila nirbahi officer of Kumarkhali upazila said, they have got death news of four people, including a student, hailing from the upazila, during the unrest.
He assured the affected families of support, including potential financial assistance upon formal application for government aid.