Media: The Independent
SHAMSUDDIN ILLIUS from Teknaf
“I’m in Class III of an NGO-run school at Unchang village in Maungdaw. I came to Bangladesh as we were being tortured by ‘mog’ Buddhists,” said Atikullah, nine-year old son of Abdus Sattar and Johura Begum of Unchang village. The family, along with others, fled from Myanmar after violence erupted in the Rakhine state.
“I used to go to school every day. After coming to Bangladesh, I miss my class and teacher. I want to attend school. I don’t remember much. One sunny morning, several people, equipped with machetes and sticks, along with some uniformed men carrying arms, came to our house. They entered the house, saying they were looking for some people. They brought out my father from inside and tied him to a tree in our yard. Youths, armed with machetes and sticks, beat up my father. They mentioned certain names, but my father said he had no connection with them,” the boy said.
“I was watching what was going on from the yard. At that time, my mother was busy collecting our belongings inside. Suddenly, one of the youths threw a ‘launchha’ (gas launcher), and fire broke out. My mother was trapped inside. As the fire broke out, the people left and my father rescued my mother, who was screaming in pain. After some time, my mother died and was buried. We left our home. On the way, we had to wait for many day. Crossing hills and rivers, we came here with seven other members of our family,” he recounted.
“We have taken shelter on a hill slope near the Kutuplong camp. We have no food and I can’t go to school. I want to study again,” he added.
Attick was standing beside the road near Shaplapur in Teknaf yesterday afternoon. Wearing a half-shirt and pants, the boy looked helpless.
Attick said his father was a day labourer. “Every night, he used to enquire about my studies. But after coming to Bangladesh, he has stopped doing so,” the boy added, trying to force a smile.
