We have heard of the English phrase ‘Nip in the bud,’ a metaphoric expression, that means something destroyed before it could fully bloom, like a flower. It also means someone whose life has been cut short by some twist of fate before it could mature to full potential.
The story of Sheikh Russell, youngest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is one that is written in tears. The 12 years old cute little boy had started to go to school and beginning to explore his environment. He was yet to be fully aware of the charisma of his father’s position and popularity. The little boy must have wondered why so many people came to their home in Dhanmondi to meet his father. He was about to bloom under the loving care of his illustrious father Bangabandhu and a doting mother. He was also the apple of the eyes of his elder brothers and sisters.
Russell would have grown big and handsome like his father and two elder brothers but to everyone’s shock and distress his life was nipped in the bud by the cruel hands of some demons on 15 August, 1975. On that fateful night, he woke up at the sound of gunfire in the house. He saw army men swarming all over the house. Before he could understand anything he witnessed the most horrific murder in the history of Bangladesh. Before his eyes his father, mother, brothers and sisters in law were gunned down by the forces of the dark.
For a while, the killers had no idea what they would do with Russell. He was sent downstairs under the custody of one of the staffs of Bangabandhu’s house. They hid him in one room hoping the killers would forget about him. But, the cold-hearted killers did not forget. They brought him out of the room and shot him in cold blood. Russell embraced death before realizing why he had to die. His life had not started yet but fate did not allow him to live in this beautiful world. May be the nation lost forever another Bangabandhu.
The question now being asked by the nation is, what did the killers gain by taking the life of this innocent minor boy? Did his death contribute to materializing their evil designs? Are the killers happy in life today?
When we look at the fate of the killers, we see that they are drifting from one place to another like a broken twig, having no permanent nationality. Their children are wondering why their parents always live in fear of getting caught by the law enforcers. They must have heard that some of the killers of Bangabandhu have been hanged in Bangladesh. Did they ask their parents why Farook uncle and Shahriar uncle have been hanged? Did they ever ask their parents why Bangabandhu was killed so brutally along with his wife, sons and daughters in law? Did they ask their parents what they had gained by killing him along with the little boy Sheikh Russel?
Today, when we look at the photo of Sheikh Russell we get drawn to his large expressive eyes. It seems his eyes are telling us something. They are seeking justice for the murder of his parents and near ones. Surely, this nation will one day find justice for him.