“Where is my mother…bring my mother back to me. I can’t live without her.”
These were the heart-wrenching screams of Junaid Islam alias Sifat (16) as he beat his chest in grief. Overwhelmed, he repeatedly fell to the floor and became unconscious.
This scene came to light at around 2.30 pm on Thursday afternoon in a rented house near Lakshmipur in Dhanhata area of Raipur Municipality area. Earlier in the afternoon, Sifat’s mother, Shaheenur Begum (40), and her three sisters – Saima Akhtar (21), Iqra Begum (17) and Sipa Akhtar (10) were murdered by intruders in their home. Sifat is the only surviving member of the family. Since the incident he has spent his time in inconsolable grief.
The family is originally from Homna upazila of Cumilla and was living in the area for a long time. Sifat works at a local iron and cement shop. He was seen mourning at a neighbour’s house while relatives tried to console him.