As the evening approaches daughter’s face is viewed in Nazim's blurred eyes!

  • Raju Ahmed, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

On 19 July at 6:30 PM, Jatrabari. Although there were few clouds in the sky, the moment of sunset could be understood very clearly. There was a lull in the firing around for a few minutes amid the heightened situation of the Quota movement. Shoemaker Nazim wanted to take that opportunity. He was returning to Demra's house after work from Jatrabari in the capital for his frightened wife and one-and-a-half year old child.

Despite the sound of bullets, bombs and cocktails all around, he didn't have the courage to step forward thinking of the waiting daughter and wife. He was thinking of crossing the road and returning home by rickshaw.

বিজ্ঞাপন

A long line of quota activists was crossing the road in a hurry. Before realizing anything, the shooting started again. Nazim fell on the road after being shot in the waist, arms, legs and chest. At that time, the face of one and a half year old daughter Lamia came into view. At one point he lost consciousness. Later Nazim was rescued by the agitators in the hospital.

Nazim is currently under treatment in ward number 102 of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. On Tuesday (July 23) morning, he was telling this reporter the story of returning from the face of death in the hospital.

বিজ্ঞাপন

Nazim said, I work from morning till evening. Salary Tk. 460 per day. If you do overtime, you get up to Tk. 600. I could not return home at night because of the trouble. He did not care for his wife and child. I went out as soon as the sound of gunshots stopped. But not saved.

Nazim was unconscious after being shot. The last time he remembered the daughter's face, Nazim said with tears in his eyes, I thought I was dead. When I regained consciousness, I saw my wife crying at the hospital. But I had no feeling in any part of my body. I didn't understand whether I was alive or dead

Nazim said, there are old parents in the village house of Narsingdi. Sending money every week keeps their mouths fed. But Nazim has no way to save himself in such a situation. On the one hand, his life is at risk if he doesn't get better treatment, on the other hand, if he doesn't send money, his parents won't have enough food. The family will be destroyed in front of the eyes in the heat of the movement.

Nazim was shot in the waist, arms, legs and chest. The doctor said that several parts of the body including two fingers may have to be removed. Nazim may not be able to escape from the cruel future even if he can escape from death.

Nazim said in a hoarse voice, "What will happen to the daughter, what will happen to my family?" However, despite the risk of death, fear and despair, the hard-working Nazim did not lose heart. He wants to recover from the bullet wound. He wants to save himself and his family.