13-Year-Old Apratim’s Death Leaves Cumilla in Grief

The home of 13-year-old Ishayat Shahriar Apratim is filled with photographs of the boy at different stages of his short life—sometimes in his mother’s arms, sometimes beside his father, and sometimes posing alone.

A wooden plaque beside the entrance reads, “Apratim’s home, cared for by Nahid and Shahriar.” Those photographs, once memories of a growing child, are now all that remain of him.

Apratim, a seventh-grade student at Border Guard Public School, left his home in Cumilla’s Kotbari area on Friday afternoon carrying his mother’s iPhone. He told his family he was going out to take photographs with friends. He never returned.

After nearly 22 hours of searching, police recovered his body on Saturday afternoon from a secluded wooded area at the foot of the Lalmai Hills near Cumilla University. Police said he had injuries to his head.

Three people have since been detained for questioning in connection with the killing, with CCTV footage helping investigators trace Apratim’s movements. The iPhone he had been carrying was also recovered from the home of one of the detained teenagers. Police have said they have found some clues but are still investigating the circumstances and motive behind the killing.

Apratim was the only child of Nahida Begum, an associate professor in the Bangla Department of Cumilla University, and businessman KM Firoz Shahriar. The family lived in the Kotbari area of Cumilla Sadar South.

Body Found in the Hills

After Apratim failed to return home, his family filed a general diary with Cumilla Sadar South Police Station. His mother also appealed for help on social media, while an emergency missing-child alert was circulated with his photograph.

His disappearance quickly drew widespread attention. Friends, teachers, university colleagues and local residents joined the search as his family tried to trace his whereabouts.

Investigators also attempted to track the phone he had been carrying. His location was reportedly detected in the Gandhamati area of Kotbari until Friday evening, after which the phone was switched off.

On Saturday morning, local resident Mohammad Abdul Kader Jilani and several others were cutting bamboo in the Lalmai Hills when they noticed what appeared to be the body of a child lying in the woods.

Jilani said a young boy accompanying them first noticed the body. When they approached, they saw blood around the child’s head and became frightened. They left the area and later informed others after learning that a university teacher’s child was missing.

Police subsequently went to the scene and recovered Apratim’s body. It was later sent for post-mortem examination to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

'What Will I Live For Now?’

Apratim’s death has devastated his parents, relatives, teachers and neighbours.

His mother, Nahida Begum, broke down repeatedly after learning that her only child had been killed. She said her son had left home happily to spend time with his friends and questioned why anyone would harm him.

His father, KM Firoz Shahriar, recalled feeding his son lunch before he left home. He said he had suggested that Apratim stay home so they could spend time together and watch a movie, but the boy wanted to go out with his friends.

“He left and never came back,” the grieving father said, demanding justice for his son.

The family had built much of their life around their only child. His sudden death has left their home filled with relatives, colleagues, teachers and neighbours who have gathered to offer support.

A Quiet and Well-Liked Student

Apratim had been studying at Border Guard Public School since Class 6 and was in Class 7.

His teachers described him as a bright, quiet and friendly student who generally avoided trouble. They said they had never known him to be involved in any disciplinary problems.

His death has also deeply affected the Cumilla University community, where his mother teaches.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor MM Shariful Karim said the university community had been closely involved in efforts to locate Apratim after he went missing.

Students Demand Justice

Students of Cumilla University staged a protest following the recovery of Apratim’s body, demanding a proper investigation and the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

The university also declared a day of mourning over his death and suspended classes and scheduled examinations. Students and teachers called for those responsible to be brought to justice and for security around the university area to be strengthened.

The case has drawn widespread public attention, with many expressing shock over the death of a child and calling for a swift investigation.

Three Detained, iPhone Recovered

Police initially detained a teenager who was seen with Apratim in CCTV footage on the day he went missing. Two more people were later detained based on information obtained during questioning and other investigative leads. All three are being questioned.

The missing iPhone was recovered during a police operation at the home of one of the detained teenagers in the Salmanpur area near Cumilla University.

Police have not confirmed that the phone was the motive for the killing. Earlier, some university teachers had suspected that Apratim might have been killed to take the phone, but investigators have said the exact motive remains under investigation.

Police Superintendent Md Anisuzzaman has said investigators have found some clues and that several teams are working to establish what happened.

The investigation is continuing, while Apratim’s family and the Cumilla University community await answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.