Verdict yet to be executed, victims' families helpless

Sudipta Paul Shelly and Khwaza Haider of Udichi were among the nine people killed in JMB bomb attacks in 2005.

On this day in 2005, nine people were killed and over 50 others injured in a suicide bombing by Islamist outfit JMB, in front of Udichi office at Azahor Road in the town.
Three people killed on the spot are Khwaza Haider, 38, joint secretary of Netrakona Udichi Shilpi Goshti, Rani Begum, 35, wife of a police sub-inspector and beggar Joinal, 55.
Six others who succumbed to their injuries on the way to or at hospitals here and in Mymensingh are Yadob Das, 28, Rais Uddin, 35, Ashab Uddin, 40, Jahanara Begum, 45, Sudipta Paul Shelly, organising secretary of Netrakona Udichi, 28, and an unidentified bomber.
But six years into the incident, neither the families of the victims got compensation nor any government official visited the bereaved.
During a visit to the house of Shahanaz Begum, 30, wife of Khwaza Haider, this correspondent came to know that her family is yet to get any monetary help from the government.
"No minister, even the Netrakona deputy commissioner (DC) did not visit my house," she said.
Shahanaz, mother of two children--Shiplu, 16, and Shaon, 8,-- maintains a family of four including her elderly mother-in-law.
"We have become simply helpless after the death of Haider as he was the only earning member of the family," she said.
In reply to a question she said, "I do not feel like seeking any help from the government because of its failure to punish the culprits involved with the killing."
Udichi leader Sudipta Paul Shelly was also the lone earning member of her family. After her death, Shelly's old parents Sushil Paul, 68, and Aruna Paul, 58, along with her ailing brother have also become totally helpless. All of them live at a rented house. They also did not get any help from the government.
During a visit, this correspondent found Aruna Paul suffering from a serious disease but unable to buy medicine for want of money.
This correspondent also visited the houses of other victims -- Rani Begum, Joinal, Raisuddin, Yadav Das and Jahanara and talked to their family members. All of them told similar tales.
On 17 February, 2008, Speedy Tribunal Court-2 Dhaka sentenced three JMB bombers to death for involvement with Netrakona blast. They are Salah Uddin, Ashaduzzaman and Yunus. But the verdict is yet to be executed. On the other hand, police failed to arrest bomber Yunus till today, said Golam Mohammad Khan Pathan Bimol, public prosecutor of Netrakona Judge Court.
Netrakona Udichi Shilpi Goshti has taken up various programmes including a protest procession and a discussion meeting to observe the day.