What was my son’s crime, how will I live now: Opritom’s mother

Associate professor, Bangla department of Comilla University, Dr Nahida Begum has lamented after the recovery of the body of her only child Ishayat Shahriar Opritom saying, ‘I came to work in Cumilla—is this my crime? Why was my son killed? I want the answer to this. How will I live now?’

13-year-old Opritom was a seventh-grade student of Border Guard Public School of Comilla. He went missing after going out from the house in Kotbari area of Ward No 24 under Cumilla Sadar Dakshin thana around 3:30pm on Friday to take photos with friends. Later his father KM Firoz Shahriar filed a general diary at the thana.

Opritom’s body was recovered from the jungle of Lalmai Sananda hill area adjacent to Comilla University campus at noon on Saturday. It has been learnt that marks of serious injury were found on his head at the time of recovery.

After getting the news of body recovery teachers and students of Comilla University rushed to Opritom’s house. They tried to console the grieving parents there.

After inspecting the spot member of parliament for Comilla Sadar constituency Monirul Haque Chowdhury went to their house to meet Opritom’s family. At that time Opritom’s mother told him, ‘I have only one son. Why was he killed in this way?’

Later Monirul Haque Chowdhury told journalists, ‘I am ashamed and saddened as the MP of this area. I could not protect an innocent child. I will talk to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The trial of this incident must be completed within 90 days.’

Meanwhile police have detained a person named Tuhin in the interest of investigation into the Opritom murder incident. His house is in Sananda area. Inspector of Kotbari thana Mohibul Alam Bhuiya has confirmed the matter.

Superintendent of police of Cumilla Anisuzzaman said our multiple teams have gone to the field and we have got some clues. We have one person with us, interrogation is going on. After leaving from here I will properly examine and investigate this murder incident. We will work nonstop on this until the actual killer is arrested.

Teachers of the university have said the iPhone of his mother that was with Opritom has also not been found yet. They are initially assuming that he may have been killed with the intention of snatching the phone.