Shuvodev still cries for mother

Nearly one year has gone by but Shuvodev Bhowmik still feels very lonely as he is deprived of motherly affection.

Shuvodev's mother Jharna Rani Bhowmik was one of the four people who died in militant attacks on the nation's largest Eid congregation at Sholakia in Kishoreganj last year.

“I do not have any want but I want to meet the prime minister as I see her talk with many children on different occasions,” said the 12-year-old, Shuvodev.

Jharna was making a special meal for them on the Eid day. Suddenly, gunshots rang out outside and Jharna was found lying in a pool of blood. A bullet came through a window of her house and hit 40-year-old Jharna on the forehead. She died instantly. 

Shuvodev's father Gourango Nath Bhowmik said when Shuvodev remains alone, he becomes speechless as they cannot be with him all the time.

“So we sent him to a Mymensingh school which has boarding facility,” he said.

Sometimes it becomes very difficult to soothe the boy when he bursts into tears after seeing the photograph of his mother, he said.

Now I am jobless as I cannot do any work due to my physical condition and we have to depend on the income of my elder son Basudev Bhowmik, said Gourango, 62. 

Basudev, a step son of Jharna,  said, “We feel sad that we have lost our near and dear one and the loss is irreparable.”

“My mother used to make the family environment a festive one on every religious occasions, but this year we are unhappy as she is no more,” said Basudev, a part-time teacher of Tejgaon Women's College in Dhaka. 

Meanwhile, honouring Jharna, the local municipality has named a road as Shaheed Jharna Rani Road in Kishoreganj town, said Mahmud Parvez, mayor of the municipality.