How can a person be killed in this way? Jewel's father asks

Jewel, the private secretary of former Gazipur city mayor Zahangir Alam, was killed in an attack in Uttara on Jul 19

No part of Hamidul Islam Jewel’s body was left unhurt. The bleeding left dark marks.

The father of Jewel, who was killed in the House Building area of Dhaka’s Uttara among the violence surrounding the quota reform protests, alleges that his son’s attackers beat him even after they killed him and hung his body from a tree.

Barek Molla, an octogenarian farmer from Chandura village in Gazipur city’s ward No. 37, said he was terrified after seeing his son’s body at Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital on Jul 19.

“What horror. I could not believe this was my Jewel. Can humans kill a person like this? No part of his body was left unharmed.”

Barek appealed to the prime minister to ensure the trial of his son's killers while he was alive.

Since the start of the quota reform movement, the students of the Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and neighbouring schools and colleges spontaneously joined the protest. They staged demonstrations at different times by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways and main roads in the neighbourhood during the movement, halting traffic for hours. The protesters also blocked the railway track during this period.

Chases and counter-chases between the students and law enforcing agencies also took place during these events, resulting in several injuries. But the scope and scale of the attacks and violence began to intensify from Thursday. The violence and casualties only escalated on Friday. Vandalism and arson attacks also occurred in projects operated by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority. All garment factories in the Gazipur industrial area were closed under the circumstances.

Amid the violence, Gazipur’s former mayor Zahangir Alam left with a convoy to attend an Awami League event in Dhaka on Friday afternoon. Jewel, 35, was in the convoy. He was known as Zahangir’s private secretary (PS). He was also involved in a part-time contracting business.

Alam, former general secretary of Awami League’s Gazipur unit, was also attacked on that day. He received 17 wounds on his head. After 17 stitches, he was taken to Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital by an air ambulance. The ruling party’s leaders say his condition is stable now.

A journalist was present at the scene during the attack. He told bdnews24.com, “The attackers left Zahangir’s PS Juwel Molla beaten and severely injured. He was attacked again on the way to Uttara Adhunik Hospital. At one point, he was hanged from a tree and beaten.

“It was a horrible scene. No journalists were allowed to take photographs.”

Jewel's family said he was the middle child of three siblings. He became involved in politics after completing his post-graduation degree at Tongi Government College. Jewel's mother died eight years ago. His two sisters have married. Jewel used to live with his father at a tin-shed house.

Jewel was Molla’s only support. He used to oversee everything for his father, from bathing to food. Jewel's earnings were the family’s main source of income, despite some money from family land. His family was hoping he would marry soon.

Jewel's uncle Abdul Khalek said, “[Jewel’s sister] Fatima Akter Rozina has fainted several times after hearing the news of her brother’s death. Barek Molla is on the edge. He is also in a poor state due to old age. He cannot work anymore and has been suffering from different ailments. His wife used to take care of him and then his son had taken on the responsibility.”

Barek was also a local Awami League politician. His son Jewel was a member of the Chhatra League during his college life.

The family said that on Jul 19, Jewel got up in the morning before his father and completed all household chores such as cooking, and washing clothes, as he did every day. Later, he went to the mosque with his father to offer Jummah prayers. The father and son had planned to have lunch together after Friday prayers.

At the end of the prayer service, Jewel was instructed to collect people for the Awami League rally in Dhaka through a call he received at the mosque premises. Then Jewel went to Zahangir’s house after sending his father home. He skipped lunch.

Barek received news of his son’s murder over the phone in the afternoon. The shock rendered him unconscious. Later, family members helped him to recover. All means of transport were suspended due to road blockades, clashes, and violence.

Under the circumstances, Jewel's family and relatives were rushed to Uttara Adhunik Hospital by an autorickshaw. They found his body at the morgue. Later, he was buried at his home.

During a visit to the home on Sunday, the tin-shed house was shrouded in silence. Jewel was laid to rest under a mango tree in the courtyard. Barek was staring at the grave.

He said, “Jewel was always with Zahangir. He used to take part in the party’s various programmes. Zahangir loved him very much. My son sacrificed his life to save his leader.”

Zahangir also inquired about Jewel's family from Singapore. Gazipur-2 MP Zahid Ahsan Russel also visited the house and assured his support for the grief-stricken family.

Barek said crying, "It's been more than a week since I lost my son but it seems like several decades. He used to feed me and check up on me over the phone now and then. Now there is no one to call me on the phone and ask – ‘What are you doing, father’?"

Jewel’s uncle Khalek said, “Jewel was sent to a local hospital after a horrible attack. Several attackers carrying weapons went there searching for Zahangir’s people. Later, Jewel was hung from a banyan tree at gunpoint and killed by beating. Police later recovered the body and took it to the hospital.”

“More than 100 people asked if the body belonged to Zahangir’s people on its way home. The body had to be brought back while hiding his identity. What was the crime of my nephew? Why was he killed like this?”

Awami League’s Gacha Thana unit president Mohiuddin said, “Jewel was known as a gentle boy. He was a dedicated member of our Jubo League. Everyone in the area is mourning his death. We demand quick justice over the incident.”

When asked about the matter, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Uttara Zone Assistant Commissioner Sumon Kar said, no case had been filed over Jewel's death.