Jubo League Activist Attends Pregnant Wife’s Funeral Three Days After Arrest

In Bandar Upazila of Narayanganj, Jubo League activist Md. Sumon (45), arrested over allegations of an ‘armed’ attack on the anti-discrimination student movement, was temporarily released on parole for three hours to attend the funeral of his pregnant wife.

He participated in the funeral prayer on Monday afternoon at Dari Sonakanda Mor, Bandar Upazila. Bandar Police Station OC Liakat Ali stated that Sumon was taken to the funeral under police supervision and was later returned to Narayanganj District Jail.

Sumon was arrested on Thursday evening by the police. The following day, he was sent to jail through the court. On Sunday night, his pregnant wife, Hafeza Begum, passed away while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Earlier in the afternoon, doctors performed a surgical procedure to deliver their stillborn child.

Sumon’s elder brother, Iqbal Hossain, said, “Although my brother currently holds no position, he was active in Jubo League politics. Previously, he served as the organizational secretary of the Chhatra League’s Sonakanda Union branch in Bandar Upazila.”

Iqbal added, “After Sumon’s arrest, nine-month-pregnant Hafeza rushed between the police station and court for two days. She was expected to give birth at the end of this month, but she fell ill on Saturday morning. After being admitted to Dhaka Medical College, she delivered a stillborn child via surgery on Sunday afternoon and passed away that night while under treatment.”

Locals at the funeral said that when family members showed Sumon a picture of his newborn, he broke down in tears. After the funeral, he was returned to jail.

Residents noted that Sumon was a close associate of Jubo League leader Khan Masud in Bandar Upazila and controlled a part of the local broadband connection business. Masud is currently a fugitive in cases filed over the ‘armed attack and murder’ related to the anti-discrimination student movement. According to a local Awami League leader, Sumon went into hiding briefly after the fall of the Awami League government but later returned to the area.

Khaborwala/TSN