University teacher Abdus Samad from Kurigram ‘served as muezzin’ of Christchurch mosque

University teacher Abdus Samad, one of the at least three Bangladeshis killed in the shooting incidents in New Zealand, served as muezzin of one of the two mosques that came under attack during Friday prayers, according to his family.

Kurigram Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 15 March 2019, 05:27 PM
Updated : 15 March 2019, 07:04 PM

Professor Dr Samad, a former faculty of Bangladesh Agriculture University from Madhur Hailla village at Kurigram’s Nageshwari, was working at Lincoln University in New Zealand.         

“He also served as the muezzin of Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue,” Habibur Rahman, one of the two brothers of Samad, who reside in Kurigram, told bdnews24.com.

“Our elder brother Asad was martyred in the Liberation War. Now we’ve lost another brother in terrorist attack,” he added.

Sexagenarian Prof Samad’s wife Kishwara Begum also died in the attack that claimed at least 49 lives, said Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Bangladesh’s honorary consul in Auckland, citing local residents.

Habibur, however, said the family were yet to be informed by the authorities about her death. 

The other Bangladesh killed in the massacre is Hosne Ara Parvin from Sylhet.

Seven other Bangladeshis were in hospital with gunshot wounds, said consul Bhuiyan.

“They went to that mosque to attend Friday prayers. The families began to call them by phone as they didn’t return home. Later, the families were informed that they have been hospitalised after being shot,” he added.

A gunman broadcast live footage on Facebook of the attack, mirroring the carnage played out in video games, after publishing a "manifesto" in which he denounced immigrants, calling them "invaders".