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
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.