Rajshahi, Mar 27 (V7N) – The family of Shaheed Shakib Anjum, who was fatally shot on August 5 in Rajshahi, is facing a deeply sorrowful Eid-ul-Fitr, their first without the eldest son who was their primary provider and support.

"This will be their first Eid without Shakib. How will they spend this Eid?" a family friend questioned.

Shakib's mother, Rokeya Khatun, expressed profound grief, stating that the mention of Eid brings only painful memories.

"Shakib Anjum's mother says that whenever she hears about Eid, she thinks of a terrible day. They are not even having Iftar together this time," a family spokesperson confirmed.

During a visit to their home in the Talaimari area of Rajshahi city, the atmosphere was described as one of silent grief.

"When she went to her house, she saw a silent silence. It seemed like no one was home. Her mother's throat was getting stuck even when she spoke," a reporter noted.

Rokeya Khatun shared her emotional turmoil, emphasizing the void left by her son.

"He said, 'What is Eid? Whenever I hear about Eid, I think of a terrible day. Whenever I think of the day of Eid coming, my heart trembles. Now in my world, dying and living have become equal,'" Rokeya Khatun stated.

She recounted how Shakib used to handle all the preparations for Iftar and Sehri, highlighting the family's inability to maintain those traditions without him.

"My son used to make arrangements for iftar, I never cooked Sehri, he used to do that. Now we can't even sit for iftar. We have to eat to survive, so we eat," Rokeya Khatun explained.

Rokeya Khatun also shared memories of Shakib's kindness and care, expressing her deep sorrow and prayers for her son.

"Last Eid, he brought me some shopping. I asked him to bring sandals, but he didn't even measure my feet. He brought some for everyone. Thinking about these things, my heart aches. I pray to Allah that He accepts my son as a martyr. I pray that no mother in the world has to see the dead body of her child," she said.

She also voiced her frustration with the perceived lack of justice and support for the injured.

"We have to give a lot of papers to get justice. Give this, give that. We don't have time to give so much paper. I thought that this time the OC only needs to ask for paper. Our judiciary doesn't want anything, we don't want anything from Bangladesh, God will give what He will give," she said.

Rokeya Khatun expressed her concern for those injured in the protests and her disappointment in the lack of support.

"Medical care for those injured in the protests is essential. Someone No. They So Ourselves For Movement Didn't. Whose For Country Independent What happened, do they have any gratitude? Not just for my children, I pray for everyone, so that they may receive the high status of martyrs. Everyone is rejoicing in front of those who lost their arms and legs in the movement. Why doesn't anyone stand by them when there are so many rich people in the country?" Rokeya Khatun questioned.

She also expressed her anger towards the government, accusing them of neglecting the injured.

"The government is not doing anything. The Awami League has run away with crores of taka from the treasury.

 We need so much money for the injured so that they can sit and eat for the rest of their lives and not be a burden to anyone," she stated.

Rokeya Khatun concluded by sharing memories of Shakib's character and her grief for her lost son.

"My son never mixed with bad people, did not belong to any political party. He hated the party because they did the number two job. I called Hasina 'Nasiha'. My son hated her, that's why he joined the movement," she said.

END/RAR/RH/