Nuruzzaman Jonny, General Secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Khilgaon unit, was killed by police in the Khilgaon area on January 19, 2015. Since Jonny's death, his widow Munia Parvin has struggled to survive. Their nine-year-old son, now in class three at a private school in Dhaka, was born seven months after Jonny's death, never having felt the love of his father. The Mirror Asia spoke with Jonny's family about the aftermath of his custodial death. Our Dhaka Correspondent interviewed Jonny’s wife. The excerpts are below.

TMA: How does life go on?
Munia: I have been living with my parents since Jonny's murder. I work at a private bank. Our son, Nohor, is nine years old and in class three at a private school in Malibagh. When school ends, Nohor goes to his grandfather. I try to visit once or twice a month.

Nohor never experienced his father’s love. To him, I am both mother and father. He sometimes asks, "Where is my father?" I tell him, "Your father went to the Almighty. Allah loves your father more, so he went to Allah." He then asks, "Mom, why doesn't Allah love us? Why doesn’t Allah take us?" I reply, "Allah loves your father more."

Nohor doesn’t ask about his father anymore, but sometimes he questions, "Mummy, why do you write ‘late’ before my father's name?" I explain that we write ‘late’ before the name of someone who has passed away.

TMA: What happened that day?
Munia: Jonny was killed on January 19, 2015. He had been staying at a cousin's house for a few days before the police killed him. Police had been arresting many people then. Jonny’s younger brother, Moniruzzaman Hira, was picked up by the police from near our house. On the morning of Jonny's death, he went to the Khilgaon Police Station to visit several detainees, including Hira. I was seven months pregnant and had a doctor's appointment that day. I asked Jonny not to go, but he assured me it would be quick. When I called around 1:30 pm, his phone hung up. Jonny usually doesn’t pick up calls but calls back. I thought he would call back, but when he didn't, I knew something was wrong. After repeatedly trying to call him, I sent an urgent text. No reply. His phone was switched off.

I went to the jail gate around 3:30 pm. No one could provide any information. In the evening, an activist of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, told me that plain-clothed police had dragged Jonny from the jail gate into a car. I then knew the detective branch had taken him. Another person named Moeen was arrested with him, but I have never seen Moeen.

TMA: Did you contact anyone after that?
Munia: Yes. I contacted leaders at different levels and went to the police station. On January 20th morning, Moeen's younger brother called me, saying that DB had arrested Moeen and Jonny and tortured them before taking them to Dhaka Medical College. He advised me not to go due to my pregnancy and to send Jonny's parents instead. Ignoring his advice, I went to Dhaka Medical, where I found Jonny's body in the morgue.

TMA: What did you see in the morgue?
Munia: Jonny had sustained 18 bullets – 16 in his chest, one in his neck, and one in his left palm.

TMA: What do you think?
Munia: The administration is behind this state-sponsored murder. I have told the media it was not a crossfire but a clear murder. Jonny was a political leader, not a terrorist or rapist. He was loved by the community. His killing was unjustified. Is doing politics a crime?

TMA: Was a case filed regarding the murder?
Munia: I couldn’t file a case. Dhaka Medical didn’t provide any documents. Jonny's father filed a lawsuit eight years later, but I don’t know its status. Since the incident, I have faced threats for talking to human rights organizations and the press. Even on my way to the office, I am threatened.

TMA: Who made the threats?
Munia: People in police jackets, but I never investigated their identities.

TMA: Do you think your son will get justice for his father's murder?
Munia: I don’t know. Why was Jonny killed? What crime did he commit? He was a political leader with no real power. Why kill him with 18 bullets when one was enough?

TMA: Have you ever asked the police these questions?
Munia: Yes. Khilgaon police claimed Jonny shot at them, and they shot back in self-defense. This is a fabricated story often told by law enforcement after custodial deaths. How can an unarmed person shoot at the police?

TMA: Who was involved in this incident?
Munia: I learned that Sub-Inspector Muniruzzaman of Khilgaon police station shot Jonny. The main perpetrators were police officers Krishna Pada Roy and Rabiul, who died in the Holy Artisan incident. SI Monir shot Jonny in the neck, and then again after pushing him out of the car.

TMA: How did you know this?
Munia: Shopkeepers near Jor Pukur field in Khilgaon witnessed the incident and told me.

TMA: Are you afraid?
Munia: Yes. My younger brother, an epileptic, was detained and beaten by the police in connection with a local murder simply because he is Jonny's brother-in-law. We spent a lot to get him released on bail. The charge sheet falsely claimed he supplied firearms to Jonny from China. Harassment continues, and there’s no safe environment here.

TMA: Do you plan to leave the country?
Munia: I fear for my child’s life. In a country where people are detained for Facebook posts and political opponents are persecuted, I see no future here. If I can leave, I will never return.

TMA: Do you want justice for your husband’s murder?
Munia: To whom can I ask for justice?

TMA: Why do you think these murders happen?
Munia: To maintain power. Those killed have no criminal records.

TMA: Do party leaders support your family?
Munia: Yes. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and standing committee member Mirza Abbas Bhai inquire about us. We stay in contact cautiously due to potential threats, and they respond when we need help.