Ariful Holding a Cow at the Market
At the cattle market in Bashila, Dhaka, a young boy named Ariful was seen holding a cow by its rope. Just days ago, he had been sitting in a truck with his father, Kohinur Sheikh, who was taking cows to the Eid market. Kohinur was sitting at the back with the animals while Ariful was in front beside the driver.
The plan was simple: Kohinur would sell the cows in Bashila and go back home. Ariful was supposed to go to the airport to pick up his aunt, who was arriving from abroad. He even brought new clothes for the occasion.
But everything changed suddenly.
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A Tragic Accident
On the way to Dhaka, near Tangail, their truck had a terrible accident. Kohinur died on the spot. Ariful left the cows with other traders and returned to Rajshahi with his father’s dead body.
After burying his father, Ariful left his new clothes behind and rushed back to Dhaka the very next day. The cows had to be sold—there was no other option.
A Ninth Grader’s New Responsibility
On 4 June, Ariful was seen at the Bashila cattle market, holding a cow. His father wasn’t with him. The sadness and shock were clear in his eyes. He’s just a ninth-grade student, but suddenly he has to take care of his whole family.
Last Phone Call: “We’ve Crossed the Jamuna Bridge”
Kohinur Sheikh lived in Nicher Palashi Fatehpur village in Bagha, Rajshahi. He had three children—two daughters who are already married, and his only son, Ariful. Kohinur had lost everything due to river erosion. He used to catch fish in the Padma River and do farming to support the family.
For the last 10–15 years, he raised three to four cows every year before Eid-ul-Adha, using money borrowed from a relative living abroad. He would sell the cows at the market and repay the loan.
Direct Sales in Dhaka for Fair Price
According to Kohinur’s nephew, Rezaul Karim, local buyers often don’t pay in cash or delay payments, sometimes saying they had losses. That’s why Kohinur and a few other traders hired a truck and brought the cows directly to Dhaka to sell for cash.
The Night Everything Went Wrong
On the night of 31 May, around 12 AM, Kohinur called his daughter Amena Khatun and said, “We’ve crossed the Jamuna Bridge, my phone has no balance, send me a top-up.” That was the last time she heard his voice.
Just an hour later, the accident happened.
Heavy Debt and a Weak Family
Ariful’s family wasn’t always poor. But the Padma River took away all their land—6 to 7 bighas. They now live in fear that their house might also be swallowed by the river soon.
Kohinur tried to grow onions on rented land (4.5 bighas), but this year the price of onions was too low. He lost nearly 3 lakh taka. All the money was borrowed, and to repay the debt, the cows must be sold. That is why Ariful had no choice but to come to the market.
“My Brother is Now Alone”
Amena says,
“My brother is now orphaned. Our father had no brothers. Ariful is all alone. We have no one else to take care of us. Our mother is crying so much that she has lost her voice.”
Will the Loan Be Repaid?
Mobarak Hossain, another trader who was in the truck, said that during such long trips, the cows need water and care, otherwise they lie down and take up space. That’s why the owner must travel with the cows.
On 1 June, around 1:15 AM, while their truck was stopped in Deohata, Mirzapur, a vegetable truck crashed into them. Kohinur was seriously injured and later died at the hospital.
Still No Buyers
When Ariful was spoken to on 4 June, he hadn’t sold a single cow yet. Buyers were offering him much less than the actual price.
Still heartbroken from losing his father, Ariful recalled that night:
“I jumped out of the truck. I asked a driver for water and gave it to my father. I kept calling him, but he didn’t answer. Then he left us forever with folded hands.”
Source: Prothom Alo
