‘Wish you were here’
Rabiul Karim was an assistant commissioner working at the Detective Branch (DB) of Police.
In the last quarters of 2015, he got to know that his wife was expecting again. His dream of being the father of a baby girl was about to get fulfilled.
The family was passing the best of their days just a month before their second child's arrival when Rabiul had to respond to the call of duty.
He never returned.
Rabiul was killed during the 12-hour rescue operation on July 1, 2016, in Dhaka's Holey Artisan café, where terrorists kept many visitors hostage.
AC Rabiul could not see his daughter. Kamrun Nahar Raina, who is six years old never saw her father either.
Rabiul's wife Umme Salma is currently working as an administrative officer at Jahangirnagar University. She lives in Dhamrai with her two children Sunny and Raina.
"I have never seen my father, except in photos," said Raina, when asked about her father.
"I heard Abbu brought many toys for Sunny bhaiya. When he tells Abbu's story, I imagine him still by our side. I like to think he would bring toys for me too if he were here."
"My children make my life now. I'm proud that my husband sacrificed his life for people and country," said Umme Salma.
Rabiul formed a school in his village for differently-abled children, where around 69 children are currently studying. For Rabiul, the school and the children were just like other family members.
AC Rabiul Karim was the elder son among the two in his family. His younger brother Shamsuzzaman Shams is a journalist at a Bangla daily.
"There is no one left now to call me and ask when I'll be going home on Eid vacations," said Shams, while reminiscing his brother's memory.
On July 1, 2016, armed militants stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery at the diplomatic zone in Dhaka's Gulshan area. Twenty-two gave their lives in the grisly terror attack. Two police officers, including Rabiul, were also killed during the 12-hour standoff that followed.
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