The government appears to be asleep for quite some time now. A woman from Rajshahi tried to wake them with her desperate cries, but they didn't hear her. Her voice never reached the powers that be. And so, this is another humble attempt.

The woman whose cries went unheard is Pori Banu. Her husband, Golam Hossain, was a rickshaw puller. On March 12, he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital. In fact, he was murdered. Why, you ask?

Earlier, on March 7, a political clash broke out between two rival factions in Rajshahi's Darikharbona area. In the clash, one side mistook Golam Hossain for a political opponent and killed him.

As he lay on the street, covered in blood, gasping for life, people stood by, afraid to help. Fear had silenced humanity. When someone finally dared to take him to the hospital, there were still attempts to block his treatment. Pori Banu pleaded and begged. She fought just to get her dying husband admitted. When she went to the police station, they refused to take her complaint.

The authorities were asleep.

Golam Hossain lost his parents when he was just six. An orphan, he was sent from Cumilla to an orphanage in Rajshahi. He grew up without a family but worked hard to build one of his own. First, he became a night guard; later, he switched to pulling a rickshaw to provide for his wife and children.

Golam had no political affiliations—just an honest, hardworking man trying to survive.

For the last 10 years, he and Pori Banu have lived in a tin-roof house near the Darikharbona railway line.

I spoke to Pori Banu on the phone. She tried to share her pain, but her words were drowned in tears. I struggled to understand. But the government hardly even tried. 

It must try harder.

Only two sentences could be made out clearly in between her sobs. 

"We are poor. The government doesn't care about us. I don't know if I will ever get justice for my husband's murder."

It has been six days. I still believe the government will ensure justice for this woman. I believe they will stand beside Pori Banu.

If justice is not served, the message will be clear—the poor are disposable. But if the authorities act now, they will restore Pori Banu's faith in governance. The choice is theirs.

I believe political reasons will not obstruct justice for Golam Hossain's murder. I believe the government will prove to Pori Banu that it stands with the poor—that she was wrong to think the government doesn't care.

All the political parties in Bangladesh talk about peace and stability. No party should let a few criminals tarnish their reputation or erode public trust.

It's time for them to walk the talk. Let the political leaders take action against those responsible for this murder. Doing so will not weaken their party. It will strengthen them. The people will applaud. They will believe in real change.

But is the government even awake? Is it listening?