Khodeza Begum

It was a Friday morning. Khodeza Begum woke up early as usual and finished most of her daily chores. But little did she know it would be the last day of her life.

Hers was a modest family, consisting of seven -- her husband, a local farmer in the Jhauchar area of Savar on the outskirts of the capital, three sons and two daughters. The couple worked hard on their land and was able to build a home for their family.

The house was near the Jhauchar-Hemayetpur Road, connected through an earthen road, which was often used by locals. The road was also a part of Khodeza's husband Nuru Gazi's land, which he let the locals use.

But, Mir Hossen Niru, 39, a local truck driver, was using the road as a shortcut for quite sometime to drive his earth-laden truck, much to the locals' dismay.

Around 11:30am that day, an altercation broke out between Nuru Gazi and Mir Hossen over driving his truck  through the road. At one stage, an enraged Mir Hossen drove the truck hastily and ran Khodeza over when she came out of the house in support of her husband.

The 39-year-old died on the spot.

Later, locals caught Mir Hossen and handed him over to police.

Khodeza's husband filed a murder case accusing Mir Hossen and his helper Imtiaj Ali with Savar Model Police Station.

The tragic incident occurred on June 20, 2003.

Over 13 years after the incident, a Dhaka court on Monday sentenced Mir Hossen to death.

Protesting the verdict, transport workers called a countrywide strike on Tuesday, which was withdrawn yesterday.

During a visit to the area yesterday, this correspondent talked to several people including Khodeza's family members, witness, and the relatives of the death convict truck driver.

“There had been regular altercations between Mir Hossen and Khodeza's husband over driving the truck through the road. The earthen road was a part of his (Khodeza's husband) property, which he let others use,” said Kashmir Begum of the area, also a witness. “At one stage, Mir Hossen out of anger ran the truck over Khodeza and killed her.”

Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, Khodeza's husband urged the government to execute the penalty immediately. “Although it took almost 13 years, we are happy that justice has been served.”

The transport strike is not justified, said Nuru Gazi, adding, “It was a murder, not an accident because he (Mir Hoseen) intentionally killed my wife after the altercation.”

Khodeza's youngest son Anower Hossen, 24, said, “I won't get my mother back. At least, her soul will be in peace now.”

Contacted, Mir Hossen's wife Halima Begum said, “It was an accident, we will appeal to the high court against the verdict.”

Meanwhile, some people, including transport workers, in the Jhauchar area are continuing their protest against the verdict.