The life he never got to build

Only three months ago, a newborn’s cry had just begun filling the home with joy. Joydev Pandey, a 40-year-old medicine distributor, and his wife, after six years of marriage, were still adjusting to first-time parenthood, with hopes quietly building around their child.

Shortly before the birth of their child, Joydev and his wife Borna Mondal, who lived in the capital’s Jatrabari, had gone to her family home in Barishal.

While Joydev returned to Dhaka following the Eid holidays, Borna their now three-month-old son Bhabesh stayed back.

Meanwhile, he began preparing to bring them to Dhaka once the child grew a little older so they could begin a new life together as a family.

That wait, however, ended in tragedy.

Joydev was killed after being crushed between two buses in the Chankharpul area of the capital.

The incident took place around 4:00pm yesterday on the road between the new building of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Chankharpul.

DMCH police outpost In-charge Inspector Md Faruk said the body was sent for an autopsy.

According to witnesses, Joydev was trying to board a Narayanganj-bound Moumita Paribahan bus when a Thikhana Paribahan bus coming from behind attempted to overtake it and hit him.

He was rushed to the emergency unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition and was declared dead around 4:30pm.

His brother, Samiran Pandey, said Joydev, who is originally from Barishal’s Agailjhara upazila, worked at Royel Laboratories, an Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing and distribution company. He was the family’s main provider, supporting his wife, newborn child, and elderly parents.

Samiran added that his brother left for work around 8:00am every day and usually returned in the evening despite a heavy workload. “That day was no different. He had finished work and was on his way home to Jatrabari when the accident occurred.”

Joydev’s co-worker Mizanur Rahman said they had been working together in the Shahbagh area earlier in the day. “We were together in the morning. After we parted ways, I received the news,” he said, adding that Joydev had been working with the pharmaceutical distributor since 2011.

After hearing the news, Samiran and his sister Sonju Pandey, both of whom live in the capital, rushed to DMCH. Upon seeing his body, Sonju broke down in tears.

They demanded strict punishment for those responsible and compensation to support the family, which has been left without its sole breadwinner.

Samiran said that, as of filing this report at 9:45pm, they had not yet informed Joydev’s wife and elderly parents of his death.

“His wife Borna is aware that he was involved in a road accident but has not been told that he died.”

He further said their father, Suren Pandey, 82, and mother, Shondha Rani Pandey, 70, are both elderly and suffer from various health complications. “Their condition is not good enough to bear such devastating news. We are still trying to decide how and when to inform them of Joydev’s death.”

Samiran, however, said that after the post-mortem examination, Joydev’s body would be taken to his village home in Barishal for burial today.