Comilla-6 lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury has demanded justice for Ishiat Shahriar Apratim, the 13-year-old son of Comilla University’s Bangla Department Associate Professor Dr Nahida Begum, breaking down in tears while speaking about the child’s death.
Before meeting Apratim’s mother on Saturday (September 19), the MP appealed to the prime minister and the home minister for justice. He called for the case to be resolved within 90 days.
“I am ashamed and I apologise. As the MP of this area, I am ashamed. We could not even protect these children,” Monirul Haque Chowdhury said.
“People die, but I have never seen such a tragic death. He was an innocent little child. What was his fault?” he said.
The MP said he had not imagined that a child could be killed over an iPhone.
“I appeal to the prime minister and the home minister to ensure that justice is completed within the next 90 days. A helpless child can be killed like this for an iPhone—I could never have imagined it. What kind of country have we built?” he said.
Calling himself a freedom fighter, he added, “I am ashamed and I apologise to the nation.”
The lawmaker became emotional while saying he was going to meet Apratim’s mother but did not know what answer he could give her.
“My daughters are calling me from abroad and asking, ‘Father, what happened?’ I have no answer. I can only say, Honourable Home Minister, please look into this and protect our children from such people,” he said.
Apratim was the only child of Dr Nahida Begum and a seventh-grade student. He went missing after leaving his home in the Kotbari area of Comilla on Friday afternoon. His father, KM Firoz Shahriar, subsequently filed a general diary with Sadar South Police Station.
After an extensive search, Apratim’s body was recovered on Saturday from a wooded area near Comilla University in the Lalmai-Sananda hill area, close to Magic Paradise Park. Police said there were signs of serious injury to his head.
Police have detained a man named Tuhin for questioning in connection with the death. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing. Police have also said they suspect the mobile phone may have been the motive, though the investigation is ongoing.
The recovery of Apratim’s body prompted a large gathering of university teachers, students and local residents at the scene, while law enforcement officials collected evidence as part of the investigation.
