“What did you do when my son was murdered?”
"What did you do when my son was murdered? My son buy medicines for me. Fifteen days ago, he came to see me. My son loved me very much. I'm losing my mind... Please do something… Ensure justice for my son," wailed 80-year-old Gita Bala Sarker, mother of school teacher Utpal Kumar Sarker, who died after a student hit him with a cricket stump on June 25.
She broke into tears while talking to The Daily Star over phone.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Born in an underprivileged family in Sirajganj's Ullapara, Utpal Kumar passed SSC in science group from a local school. He obtained HSC degree from Ullapara Government College.
He completed his honours and masters from Department of Political Science, Chittagong University. In 2011, he started teaching at Haji Yunus Ali School and College in Chittashai area of Ashulia. He was appointed president of the institution's disciplinary committee.
The victim's elder brother, Ashish Kumar Sarkar, told The Daily Star that Utpal was the youngest among five brothers and three sisters. "My father died a long time ago. We made sacrifices for his studies. Utpal married three years ago. What will happen to his wife?"
The accused student's father Ujjal Hossain, is an influential person in the area, he added.
Ashish was doubtful about getting justice. Police have not arrested the accused student yet. "His parents threatened us and police did not take any action against them," he added.
"We are helpless. We want the prime minister's intervention," he added.
Saiful Islam, principal of Haji Yunus Ali School and College, also expressed doubts over the trial.
"If the accused student is not arrested, we will go for demonstration," he said.
On June 25, some locals apprehended the student when he hit Utpal with cricket stump, his father Ujjal took him away and threatened them, locals said.
None was found in the student's house when this correspondent went to ask about the allegations. Their phones were also found switched off.
When contacted, Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-charge Kamruzzaman said that they would inform the media once the accused is arrested. Then he hung up.
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