Prayers and pain at funeral for 17-year-old girl killed crossing intersection near Scarborough school
Dozens of family, friends and members of the GTA’s Bangladeshi community gathered on Thursday for the funeral of Nadia Mozumder — a 17-year-old girl killed crossing an intersection near her school Tuesday.
Her death is being described as an excruciating loss. The emotion during the service, held at the Islamic Research Centre of Canada, was overwhelming and raw.
“I’m very sad. She was my everything,” her father, Azizul Mozumder, said. “She’s a very good girl. Really good girl. I love my daughter so much. I’m going to miss her the rest of my life.”
Azizul Mozumder, left, surrounded by friends and family. (Beth Macdonell/CTV News Toronto)
The Grade 12 student at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute was well known, not only for her volunteer work but for her smile and kindness. She wanted to be a nurse.
Inside the mosque, there were prayers and pain as mourners paid their respects.
Mozumder’s parents and several family members broke down at various points of the service.
Mozumder was struck crossing an intersection near her school during lunch hour. Police say she was hit by a van turning left. The speed limit in that zone is 50 kilometres.
“It’s really tough and it’s really hard. She was very loving and a kind-hearted girl,” family friend Sadik Rahman told CTV News Toronto. He said he rushed to the hospital, not far from his work, after the collision and relayed the devastating news to Mozumder’s father.
Mozumder’s father and close family friends want to see more crossing guards, speed limits lowered and better enforcement near schools to protect students.
“It’s a routine thing and no one is doing anything about it,” family friend Moqsood Hussainee said.
Heartbroken, they still want to speak up about the need for change to prevent others from the same anguish.
“I need justice for my daughter. Never again [do] I want this to happen to someone else,” Azizul said.
After the funeral, Mozumder’s body was laid to rest at the Toronto Muslim Cemetery in Richmond Hill.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.