A cultural organizer, a singer, an actor and a development worker, Haider was born in a village of Purbodhala Upazilla of Netrakona. His nickname was Ratan. Having lost his father at an early age, he came back to his maternal grandparent’s home in Gojinpur of the same district. After completing education, he joined the Netrakona centre office of the development organization Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS). In 2004, he joined The institute for Environment and Development (IED) as a Development Officer. He was a dedicated worker for building awareness of the poor and women, for organizing and empowering through cultural activities. Besides, he was involved with the cultural organization ‘Udichi’. He was the Joint Secretary of the Netrakona district branch of Udichi. He sang folk songs, Gano Shongit, and songs of Tagore-Nazrul-Rajanikanto-Atulprasad at any time with an open voice, draining all emotion from the core of his heart. He was a regular artist in Bangladesh Betar and a wonderful actor. His presence was a must in all kinds of cultural activities of Netrakona. He was very close to the Bauls, folk, jari and indigenous musicians of rural areas as well as of the cultural and drama activists, writers, poets and artists of the town. He was their very dear own ‘Haider Bhai’, always beside them as a friend in happiness and in sorrow.
Haider was the only earning member of his small family where he lived with his wife, two children Shiplu (11) and Shaon (2 and half) and his old mother. The day he was killed in bomb attack was the day before his wedding anniversary.
Shudipta Rani Paul (30)
Shudipta Rani Paul of Ajohar Road, Boropukurpar, Netrakona town was a development and cultural worker. Shudipta, also known as Shelly, liked singing and acting. She was an excellent presenter and a member of the Secretariat of ‘Udichi’ Netrakona branch. She was a regular face in all cultural activities in Netrakona. Progressive feminist Shudipta joined Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS) as a Development Worker after passing BA from Netrakona Government College in 1993. In 2004 she joined Institute for Environment and Development (IED) as a Trainer. She worked for development of women and the poor, for raising awareness among them and organizing and empowering them. She was a working woman who lived with her low income family in a small rented house. Her family consisted of her old father Sunil Paul, mother Aruna Paul and a mentally retarded younger brother. Her father is a retired teacher and her mother is a housewife. She was running the entire family as the only earning member. On December 8 at the time of the bombing incident she was on her way back home to give money for groceries for the family.
