Thousands bid farewell to Apratim as grieving father seeks prayers
Apratim's second janaza was held in Gandhamati Eidgah of Kotbari at 11am, after which he was buried at the family graveyard
Ishayat Shahriar Apratim, the 13-year-old son of Comilla University Associate Professor Dr Nahida Nahid, was laid to rest at the family graveyard in Cumilla today (20 September).
His first janaza was held at Comilla University at 10:10am today. His second janaza was held in Gandhamati Eidgah of Kotbari at 11am, after which he was buried at the family graveyard.
Apratim, a seventh-grade student at Border Guard Public School, was the only child of Comilla University Bangla Department Associate Professor Nahida Nahid and KM Firoz Shahriar.
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Before the janaza, Firoz broke down in tears.
"Apratim grew up surrounded by your affection and love. If he hurt anyone, please forgive him," he said.
Thousands of people, including university teachers, officers, employees, students and local residents, gathered to see Apratim for the last time. Many were tearful over the killing and demanded swift justice.
On Friday (18 September) around 3:30pm, Apratim left his home in the Kotbari area with his mother's iPhone to take photographs with friends. He did not return home.
In the evening, family members searched for him in several places, while his father filed a general diary (GD) with Sadar Dakshin Police Station.
Yesterday afternoon, police recovered his body from a jungle in the Sananda area, south of the south intersection in Cumilla's Kotbari. Police said there were severe injury marks on his head.
Based on CCTV footage, police initially detained a youth named Tuhin, who had been with Apratim since the afternoon.
Later, based on information obtained during his interrogation, two more youths, Anas and Fahim Ahmed, were detained, bringing the total number of detainees to three.
Police also recovered the iPhone, stolen from Apratim before he was killed, from Tuhin's home, according to media reports.
However, police have not officially confirmed the detainees' involvement in the killing.
Police are scheduled to provide details at 12 noon today.
