Sylhet’s Parvin died ‘trying to save her paralysed husband’ from Christchurch shootings

Husne Ara Parvin, one of the Bangladeshis killed in shootings at two mosques in New Zealand, became a target when she tried to save her wheelchair-bound paralysed husband Farid Uddin, according to a relative.

The 42-year old was the daughter of Nuruddin from Jangalhata village in Sylhet’s Golapganj while Farid is from Chawkgram village at Biswanath Upazila of the same district.

A view of the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue in Christchurch, New Zealand, taken in 2014. REUTERS

Her nephew Mahfuz Chowdhury, who resides in Sylhet, said he heard about her death in the shooting from their relatives in New Zealand.

The Al Noor Mosque in Deans Ave, Christchurch has two sections – one for men and the other for women.

Parvin and Farid went to the mosque in the afternoon to offer Friday’s Juma prayers.      

“Khala (aunt) went to the women’s section of the mosque after leaving her paralysed husband at the men’s section on a wheelchair. She came out when she heard gunshots. She died on the spot as she approached the men’s section to save her husband,” Mahfuz said.

Farid survived the attack as others in the mosque took him out to safety when the shooting began, he said. The couple have a daughter.

Farid Uddin

New Zealand police were yet to hand over the body but informed the family about Parvin’s death, Mahfuz said.

At least three Bangladeshis are among the 49 people killed in the shootings in two mosques at Christchurch.

Players and support staff of Bangladesh cricket team narrowly escaped death in the attack as it unfolded just when they arrived in the mosque to join the prayers. The last Test match between the two teams has been called off.