Hafiz Ayman, 14, Dreamed of Leading Taraweeh Prayers—Killed by a Lorry in Chattogram
Arham Hossain Ayman had memorised the Quran and become a hafiz at just 14 years of age. Having completed his hifz, he was revising the holy Quran. His family's dream was that he would lead Taraweeh prayers at a mosque next Ramadan. Amid preparations to fulfil that dream, he left home on his bicycle on Friday (6 November) afternoon. He never returned—he was killed after being hit by a lorry in the Pahartali area of Chattogram city.
The accident happened at around 4:30pm on Friday in front of the Green View residential area on Nayabazar Bishwa Road in the city. According to local sources, Ayman left home on his bicycle after Asr prayers without telling anyone. While heading from the Nayabazar Bishwa Road junction toward the Green View residential area, he was seriously injured when a lorry hit him in the middle of the road. He was rescued and taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Ayman's home was at Bhuiya Hajir Bari, east of Ali Mia Bazar in the greater Muchapur Union of Sandwip upazila, Chattogram. His father, Muhammad Alamgir, is an expatriate in Kuwait. Ayman was the youngest of two sisters and one brother. He lived with his family at Lane 9 of A Block in the city's Halishahar area.
Family members said Ayman studied in the hifz section of a local madrasa. After finishing memorising the Quran, he was revising it again. Preparations were also under way for him to recite the Quran in Taraweeh prayers next Ramadan. The family had been waiting to hear the Quran recited in their son's voice. That dream will now never be fulfilled.
On hearing of Ayman's death, his father Muhammad Alamgir is returning home from Kuwait. He had gone back to his workplace a month ago after spending a leave at home. Ayman's janaza is scheduled to be held on Saturday noon in his father's presence.
Ayman's uncle, Md Belal Uddin, said Ayman had left home on his bicycle after Asr prayers. Relatives first learned of the accident on Bishwa Road by phone; he himself received the news in the evening. Later he learned that Ayman was no more.
He added: 'Ayman was a hafiz of the Quran. After completing his hifz, he was revising the Quran again. He was preparing to take part in Taraweeh prayers next Ramadan. The family had hoped to hear the Quran recited in his voice. But that hope will never be fulfilled now.'
Pahartali police station's officer-in-charge (OC) Muhammad Nurul Absar said: 'The CCTV footage of the spot will be reviewed after the accident. The family has said they will not file a case. However, police will, on their own initiative, try to identify the lorry involved in the accident and bring the driver under the law.'
