In agony, family misses Rajon
Eid day remained no more of a day to rejoice for the family of Sheikh Md Samiul Alam Rajon, the 13-year-old boy who was victim of a brutal murder in Sylhet.
“During every Eid, my elder brother Rajon used to get new clothes for me. With him gone, I have not got any clothes yet. Rajon used to give me Panjabi with Tupi (cap worn by Muslims during prayer time). We used to buy those with our father," said Sajon, 9, Rajon's younger brother and a student of class-1 at Anantapur Govt High School in Bhadeali village under Sadar upazila in Sylhet district.
“He (Rajon) loved me very much. He used to tell me that I was not only his brother but also his heart. He would give me bat, ball, and other things to play. He used to play boxing with me."
Young Sajon recalled that his brother used to bring him chocolates, biscuits etc. when he returned home every day. "While having our meal together, he used to give me the big piece of meat or fishes."
Pointing out that he could not continue study after passing class five, Rajon used to insist that Sajon I must study well so that he could help him and the family, Sajon told our Moulvibazar correspondent.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki visited Rajon’s family to express her condolences and handed over a cheque of Tk 1 lakh to them.
Lawmaker Asmatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury, who was accompanying the state minister, said that she would provide assistance to ensure schooling of Rajon's younger brother.
Sylhet's Deputy Commissioner Joynal Abedin pledged to give the family Tk 2,000 every month from the district administration at the same time.
Muhit Alam, who is currently being interrogated in remand, has confessed to the police about torturing the teenager from 6:30am to 10:30am on July 8, said Rahmat Ullah, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.
After the killing, Rajon’s body was kept hidden in the same van which he had been falsely accused of stealing. Muhit then went to the Kumargaon bus stand to rent a microbus, in which the body of Rajon was later found by locals at around 12:45pm. They also apprehended Muhit at the time, the police official also said.
Moyna Mia, another remanded suspect, has also confessed to the police. Law enforcers are working on identifying the owner of the rented microbus, he added.
Rubina Begum, mother of the deceased Rajon, said their family lived on the income of Rajon and his father, and was struggling for survival, as Rajon could not meet the needs of his own family while her husband was sick to work.
"Every Eid, Rajon presented me at least one sari, which I used year long,” Rubina said, showing her torn sari.
“Eid brings no joy for me except some sorrowful memories of my dead son Rajon," she added.
Azizur Rahman, 30, father of the victim, said, “I used to buy new clothes for family members according to Rajon’s choices in every Eid. What Eid shall we celebrate, with whom? My son will never come back. He is no more. I can't even see his body.”
He joined the demonstrations for the last few days, including human chains, rallies, and roadblocks on the Sylhet highway area.
Sheikh Samiul Alam Rajon, 13, was tortured to death by a group of men at Kumargaon on the outskirts of Sylhet city on July 8.
A 28-minute video, recorded on a mobile phone camera and later uploaded to social media platforms, showed the victim tied to a pole in front of a workshop. From the video, it seemed there were five to six men who took part in the barbaric torture.
Meanwhile, Dulal, another sibling of key suspects Muhit and Kamrul, was handed over to the police yesterday.
Dulal, who could be seen laughing and beating Rajon in the video, was initially handed over to a local UP member by his own mother and sister, according to local sources. After being notified, the police later went there and arrested Dulal.
Jalalabad police OC Akhtar Hossain said the family handed over Dulal after realising that the police had beefed up patrolling in the area.
Meanwhile, Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Shahedul Karim placed suspect Moyna Mia, who was arrested on Tuesday night, under a seven-day remand after the police sought a 10-day remand.
Commenting on the progress of the case, ADC Rahmat Ullah told the Daily Star that seven suspects have so far been arrested. They are- Muhit Alam, his brothers Dulal and Kamrul Islam who was held in Saudi Arabia, cousin Ismail Hossain Ablus, Moyna Mia, and witnesses Firoze Ali and Azmat Ullah. The two witnesses have already testified before court.
The Rajon murder case will soon be handed to the Detective Branch in accordance with directives issued yesterday by Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kamrul Ahsan to the Jalalabad police station, said ADC Rahmat Ullah.
The investigation into Rajon’s death is progressing amid allegations that two Jalalabad police officials had taken bribes to help one of the suspects, Kamrul Islam, to flee to Saudi Arabia. The Sylhet Metropolitan Police has also formed a three-member probe committee to look into the allegations.
Rajon’s father has also claimed that Kamrul’s family had initially offered him Tk6 lakh to settle the issue without pursuing any legal action.
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