Apratim's death: Comilla University declares day of mourning, suspends classes, exams

Comilla University has declared tomorrow, 20 September, a day of mourning over the killing of 13-year-old Ishayat Shahriar Apritim, the son of its Bangla Department Associate Professor Dr Nahida Begum.

All classes and scheduled examinations at the university will remain suspended on the day, according to a notice signed by Registrar Mujibur Rahman Majumdar today (19 September).

As part of the day of mourning, teachers, students, officers and employees have been asked to observe the suspension of all academic activities on 20 September.

The notice also stated that the university's entire community was deeply shocked and saddened by the "brutal" killing and condemned the incident.

It also called for a fair investigation, swift arrest of those involved, and exemplary punishment, while expressing condolences to Apratim's family.

The university also stated that revised schedules for the suspended examinations would be announced later through notices from the respective departments.

Apratim, the only son of Nahida and KM Firoz Shahriar, was a seventh-grader at Border Guard Public School.

He went missing yesterday afternoon after leaving his home in Kotbari around 3:30pm with his mother's iPhone to take photos with friends after Jummah prayers.

His family searched for him, and his father filed a general diary at Sadar South Police Station that evening. Police also reviewed CCTV footage from his last known location and surrounding areas of Cumilla University.

Apratim's body was recovered around noon today from a jungle in Lalmai Sananda Pahar, Kotbari, near the university. Police said he had severe head injuries.

The body was sent to the morgue of Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

Sadar South Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rakibul Islam said several people were being questioned, with some currently in police custody.

"Their names cannot be disclosed at this stage in the interest of the investigation," he added.