Bangladeshi community to farewell 23-year-old Md ‘Sifat’ Isfaqur Rahman in funeral
The Bangladeshi community is campaigning for safer rental rules following an alleged brutal home invasion as they get ready to say goodbye to a fellow member and friend.
Death Notices and Funerals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Death Notices and Funerals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Three months after arriving in the Territory to pursue his future, a young international student will be farewelled days after he was beaten to death in his own home.
On Monday a funeral service will be held for 23-year-old Md ‘Sifat’ Isfaqur Rahman, three days after he passed away from a traumatic brain injury.
The young Bangladeshi international student was allegedly murdered in his Millner home on Wednesday during a home invasion, with a 29-year-old man due to face court on the same day as his funeral.
The funeral and Janazah Salaah service will be held at the Darwin Mosque, 35 Vanderlin Dr, Wanguri at 1.30pm, Monday May 8.
Attendees are asked not to not bring any flowers and wear moderate dress, with trousers and full sleeves.
It comes after International Education Minister Ngaree Ah Kit met with leaders to address concerns from the shattered Bangladeshi community on Saturday.
Bangladesh Association of the NT Inc. president Abdus Sattar said his community was “shaken” and were seeking solutions to prevent further devastation.
Mr Sattar said his first concern was for the three “traumatised” boys who lived with Sifat, who were struggling to return to work or feel safe.
“They’re scared to go back to work,” he said.
He said Ms Ah Kit committed to speak with Charles Darwin University about financial assistance and accommodation support.
Mr Sattar said secure accommodation and transport were a huge concern for all international students, and they were campaigning for CDU student only buses to campus.
While student housing accommodation has been proposed for Darwin CBD,Casuarina Square and Frog Hollow, Mr Sattar said many international students struggled to find affordable secure homes.
He said a friend of Sifat’s roommates said their rental was “un-liveable” with four young men staying in the unit with no locks on the doors and smashed windows.
“They wanted cheap accommodation,” Mr Sattar said.
“They shouldn’t be renting (it).”
In discussion notes of a meeting with Mr Sattar, Ms Ah Kit said the government would discuss the “shortage of suitable accommodation” which led many to seek cheap housing off campus “sometimes in unsafe neighbourhoods”.
Ms Ah Kit said the government would discuss how to ensure rental property standards are maintained so that necessary security features like locks or mesh were in place to prevent home invasions.
The community leaders also suggested more community safety education for newly-arrived students
Mr Sattar said his community had developed a seven-point plan to make travellers feel safe in the NT, including safe accommodation and transport, more police and surveillance, greater support to victims of crime and funding for community-based programs to address the root causes of crime.
Mr Sattar said many Bangladeshi nationals like himself moved to Australia, and particularly Darwin, because it seemed like a “safe” and “peaceful” community.
“They’re so scared now,” he said.
After 36 years in the Territory, Mr Sattar said he had never seen crime at such escalated levels in the Top End.
“20, 30 years ago, people used to leave their house open, the car key was hanging in the ignition – nothing happened,” he said.
“I haven’t seen crime like this.”
Mr Sattar said the organisation had applied to host its own rally in front of Parliament House, and its petition had more than 900 signatures.
Mr Sattar said the Bangladesh Association had not yet received permission to host the rally, and therefore could not confirm a date.
The Charles Darwin University Bangladeshi Student Association has also organised a Tribute Concert for Sifat for Saturday May 13.
Organisers said the $40 ticket fee will go towards the Sifat Memorial Fund, which will promote safe accommodation, transport, and overall safety for international students in Darwin.
Funerals this week
Funerals for Martin Benjamin Jacob, Steve Marshall and Andrew "Lurch" Baumgartner will be held in in Darwin this week. Read the latest funeral notices here.
Today’s death notices
The deaths of Ian Charles Izod, Kathryn Lloyd and Sharon Lee Higgins have been announced in the NT News' My Tributes. Read the latest death notices here.