A son taken too soon

“I fought for this country. I sacrificed my youth for the freedom of this land. How do I go on now that my son is no more?” asked 80-year-old freedom fighter Sushil Gharami.
His son, Suman Gharami, 35, a police constable posted at Khulna Police Lines, was beaten to death during a clash between agitators and the law enforcers in the city’s Gollamari intersection during a protest on Friday.
Shushil’s once strong, weathered face now betrays the deep sorrow and helplessness that haunt him.
His home, “Bir Nibash”, which was built by the state to honour those who fought in the Liberation War, now appears unbearably hollow, filled with overwhelming grief and despair that have consumed the family.
Gita Rani Gharami, 60-year-old mother of the slain policeman, was seen by the shallow grave that was dug for her son. Her eyes, red from crying, stared blankly at the mound of earth that will soon cover Suman’s body.
“Can you bring my son back?” she asks, her voice breaking up with every word. “Can anyone return my Suman to me?”
The loss of a child is a parent’s worst nightmare, and for Gita Rani, that nightmare has become a harrowing reality.
Suman’s younger sister, Sumona Gharami, recalls the devastating moment when she learned of her brother’s death.
“It was around 7:15pm when my sister-in-law called me,” Sumona said, her voice trembling. “She said, ‘Your brother is no more. He is in the hospital.'”
The shock, disbelief, and sorrow that followed left her numb.
She said Suman was not only a dedicated police officer but also a beloved son and brother. The brutal nature of his killing has left his family demanding justice.
“I want justice,” said Sushil Gharami, his voice carrying the unbearable pain of losing a son.