Physically challenged youth dies

Shamim

Physically challenged he may have been, but Shamim had the courage to protest what he considered to be wrong. In the end, he had to pay with his life for his guts.
Assaulted allegedly by a local leader of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the 22 year-old youth died at the intensive care unit of Enam Medical College and Hospital around 6:00am yesterday, Zahidur Rahman, a director at the hospital told The Daily Star.
Police were yet to arrest the assailant Jahidul Islam Faisal, convenor of Savar unit of BCL, a pro-Awami League student body.
In a complaint filed with Savar Model Police Station on Thursday, the victim's father Jahangir Alam said his son had an altercation with Shamim that day afternoon over a recharging of their mobile phones at a shop at Savar Bazar Bus Stop.
“Shamim protested when Faisal was recharging his mobile phone by breaking the queue. Angered at this, Faisal beat him up with iron rods and sticks," reads the complaint.
Physician Nadim Hossain said severely beaten Shamim bled excessively and blood had clotted in some parts of his body.
Both the accused -- Faisal and Johnny, a worker of Savar BCL unit -- have been on the run, said Aminur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station.
The victim's family, however, complained that the two were not arrested as they had political affiliation.
Asked if the Awami League would ask the BCL to take any organisational action against Faisal, Savar AL general secretary Ali Haider said Faisal might be expelled from the BCL.