Taufik buried in Gaibandha as his wife Setu Moni weeps with 11-month-old Siam
Garment worker Taufik Hossain, who was injured in the garment workers' movement in Gazipur and later died, was buried on Wednesday morning in the family graveyard at Chhoygharia village in Kochashahar Union of Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha, after a janaza. He was the son of the late Tobi Khan of that village.
After the burial, Taufik's wife Setu Moni (19) remained at the home in Chhoygharia village. Holding her 11-month-old son Siam, she broke down in tears again and again.
Setu Moni said: 'My parents also live in a house on khas land. Taufik's father has nothing except the homestead plot. Where will I go with this little baby? Who will take responsibility for my child? If Taufik had lived, my baby would have been happy.' She said: 'My baby has forever lost the person he would have called Abbu.'
Taufik died on Tuesday morning while undergoing treatment at Shin Shin Japan Hospital in the Banglabazar area of Gazipur. The previous day, Monday, he had been seriously injured while taking part in the garment workers' movement demanding a rise in the minimum wage. He had since been in the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU).
Recalling her last moments with her husband, Setu Moni said that on that morning Taufik had held his son Siam and kissed him on the face and eyes. She was cooking. As he left for work, Taufik had said he would buy milk for the baby. In Setu Moni's words: 'He did not bring the baby's milk. His lifeless body came back with its eyes closed.'
Setu Moni said Taufik had many dreams for his son Siam. Whatever food the child liked, he would buy it after work. Fulfilling his son's small wishes was what gave Taufik joy.
Taufik's friend Sohrab said Taufik had married Setu Moni four years ago. Taufik worked in the cutting section of Laila Style Garments in the Mirzapur Masterbari area of Gazipur.
Sohrab also said that after his father died in 2019, Taufik left his studies to take responsibility for his struggling family and moved to Gazipur. Working in a garment factory, he supported the family while dreaming of a future with his wife and child.
The government has given one lakh taka in financial assistance to the family of Taufik Hossain, who was killed in the ongoing garment workers' movement in Gazipur demanding a rise in the minimum wage. The assistance was given on behalf of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Having lost her husband, Setu Moni now faces an uncertain future with her 11-month-old son Siam. She said the thought of how her son will grow up deprived of his father's affection is eating away at her.
