Speech-impaired elderly railway cleaner dies after assault and robbery in Narsingdi

Bobi Begum, a 70-year-old speech-impaired woman who was assaulted and robbed at Methikanda Railway Station in Raipura upazila, Narsingdi, has died.

According to Prothom Alo's report, she died at around 1:15am last night while being taken from Raipura Upazila Health Complex to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, Raipura Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Jannatul Naeem and Station Master SM Jasim confirmed.

The attack occurred at around 2am on Saturday (4 July) when assailants entered the abandoned room where she lived at the station, beat her and looted the cash she had saved over many years.

The incident sparked widespread outrage after it spread on social media, with demands for the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.

The local administration, police and several voluntary organisations later extended support to her.

According to railway sources, Bobi Begum had been living at Methikanda Railway Station for nearly two decades after reportedly getting off a train there. An abandoned room at the station had been her shelter.

She swept the platform, cleaned the toilets and performed other cleaning duties without pay. 

Local residents and passengers regularly gave her food and money, most of which she saved. 

Investigators alleged those savings were the motive behind the attack.

Station Master SM Jasim said she had suffered injuries beneath both eyes and on several parts of her body.

"She received primary treatment and initially appeared to be recovering."

However, at around 11:30pm on Tuesday (7 July), she began shivering severely and was taken to the upazila health complex shortly after midnight.

As her condition worsened, doctors referred her to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital for advanced treatment.

Jasim, who accompanied her in the ambulance, said she died at around 1:15am while being taken to the hospital.

He noted that she passed away as the ambulance crossed the railway station that had been her home for years.

Jannatul Naeem said Bobi Begum was suffering from respiratory distress when she arrived at the health complex and her blood pressure could not be detected.

"Despite receiving saline and oxygen, her condition did not improve. We referred her to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital for better treatment. She was brought back dead a short while later," Jannatul Naeem said.

Raipura Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mojibur Rahman said the body was sent to the morgue at Narsingdi Sadar Hospital yesterday morning for an autopsy.

He said police are analysing CCTV footage and conducting raids to identify and arrest those involved.

Raipura Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Masud Rana expressed sorrow over her death, saying the administration had taken responsibility for her treatment and care after the attack but could not save her.

"The perpetrators will be brought to justice," he said.