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My father's dream was to give a big house to his younger sister and get her married later. Everyone will be good to me. My father's dream was not fulfilled. They are killing my father. Talked with them that they will give game in a big fishing trawler (cross the sea). They are putting 52 people in the small boat where 30 people have a capacity to cross. I want them to be judged.
Shilpi Begum, the mother of Russel Sheikh, who was killed in the Mediterranean Sea in Tunisia, said this while lamenting on Friday (May 3) afternoon.
Shilpi Begum is the wife of Abul Kashem Sheikh of Fateptri village of Dignagar union of Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj. Eight Bangladeshis died in the torture of brokers in the Mediterranean Sea in Tunisia. The house of three of them is in Muksudpur of Gopalganj. Russell Sheikh (23) is one of those three people from Muksudpur. Out of the eight, three are from Gopalganj, while the remaining five are from Rajair Upazila of neighboring Madaripur.
On Friday evening, the bodies of the three victims reached their respective villages of Muksdupur Upazila. Later their bodies were buried.
Abul Kashem Sheikh, the father of the deceased Russel said, I am a poor man running a small tea shop in Bhanga area of Faridpur. I raised my children with much difficulty. Russell is the only son among three children. Wanted to go to Italy to ease my pain. I thought going to Italy would give me some peace. My mother (Russell's grandmother) died two days after Russell left home. On the day of my mother's kulkhani, I got the news of my son's death. Allah will test me more. If you could hug a little, would the crying of the chest be less? I want justice for those who tortured and killed my Manik.
The eight people who died are – Rifat Sheikh (23), son of Dadan Sheikh of Baradia village of Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj, Mohd of Fatepatti village of Dignagar union. Russell (23) and Imrul Kayes Apan (22) son of Pannu Sheikh of Goilakandi village and Sajib Kazi (19) son of Mizanur Rahman Kazi of Kodalia village in Rajair of Madaripur, Mamun Sheikh (22) son of Yusuf Ali Sheikh of West Swaramangal village, Sajal son of Sunil Bairagi of Sendiyar village. Bairagi (22), Nayan Biswas (24) son of Paritosh Biswas of Uttarpara village, Kawsar (22) of Keshardiya village.
The relatives said that the bodies arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka yesterday at 12:20 pm on a Saudi Airlines flight. Then they rushed to take the body. But the bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
When we went to the house of deceased Russell Sheikh in Fateptri area of Dignagar Union of Muksudpur Upazila, we saw a crowd of relatives in the house, Shilli Begum, the mother of the deceased, was crying and her neighbors and relatives were comforting her. Shilpi Begum is fainting again and again after losing her only son. Remembering the memories from time to time crying; Saying, father Russell you come to my chest. You don't need abroad. Many are in tears, everyone is waiting for the body to return from Dhaka.
Uncle of the deceased. Kabir Sheikh said, Russell wanted to return the family's prosperity. But it was over. We never feared that Russell would come home like this as a dead body.
He also said that Sumon of Kanuria village of Dignagar Union said that if we pay 13 lakh taka, we will send Russell to Italy. A few days after they took him, they physically abused him, did not let him eat for three days. Then 52 people set sail in a small boat with a capacity of 30 people. Among them, 9 people were hidden under the hull (patatan) of the boat; They died there. We demand that these brokers be brought under the law and punished. So that no other mother's lap is empty.
Meanwhile, going to the house of Rifat Sheikh in Baradia village of Dignagar Union of Muksudpur, it was seen that Rifat's mother Suma Begum was petrified with grief. can't speak Just saying why my Rifat is still not brought to me. I want to see Rifat. I have no complaint against anyone, Allah has taken my Rifat.
Rifat's relatives said that Rifat's father Dadan Sheikh went to the airport to bring his son's body. Relatives dug the grave yesterday evening. The body was brought in on Friday evening and buried.
According to relatives, police and local sources, on January 14, a number of youths left home for Italy in Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj and Rajair upazila of Madaripur. First they arrived in Libya by plane via Dubai. Later, on February 14, they left Libya for Italy in an engine-powered boat through brokers. They were tortured on their way to Tunisia in a motorized boat in the Mediterranean. Rifat of Baradia of Muksudpur union of Gopalganj, Rasel of Fateptri of Dignagar union, Apan of Goilakandi of Gohala union, Sajeeb Kazi of Kodalia of Rajair of Madaripur, Mamun Sheikh of Paschim Swaramangal village, Sajal Bairagi of Sendia, Nayan Biswas of Kadambari and Kawsar of Keshardiya village died in this. Apart from this, a Pakistani national also died.
The local coast guard rescued some alive after receiving information. According to the relatives, active members of the human trafficking gang, Rahim Sheikh of Ghazaria village of Muksudpur in Gopalganj and Mosharaf Kazi of Sundardi village, Sumon Mia of Hossainpur of Rajoir upazila in Madaripur took Tk 13 to 15 lakh from each of them by showing temptation. Since the incident, the members of the Dalal gang have been absconding.
Muksudpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Ashraful Alam said that any legal assistance will be provided on behalf of the families of those killed in the accident in Tunisia. Meanwhile, the bodies have officially arrived in the country. So far, no family has lodged a complaint with the police. Legal action will be taken by contacting the authorities.
