Funeral must wait for young Ipswich lad

RELATIVES of a ten-year-old Ipswich boy who died on a flight to Dubai today revealed they could have to wait up to three weeks before holding his funeral.

Popular Sidegate Primary School pupil Jamil Rahman died just 30 minutes before the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight he was on was due to land in Dubai.

He had been travelling with his mother Ruhela Begum, his brother Jabir, 8, and his 18-month-old sister Summayyah. The family were on their way to see relatives in Bangladesh.

Jamil's father Malik Rahman today said his son's body had been flown back to England and was due to undergo a second post mortem in London. It is not yet clear how Jamil died.

Although the family, from Shaftesbury Square, near Rope Walk, believe a post mortem carried out in Dubai suggested he died from natural causes.

Mr Malik said: “It's going to be some time before we can hold the funeral. It could be two to three weeks.”

Jamil had suffered medical problems after being born premature. He had a shunt put in his head after being born with fluid on the brain but his father said in the past five years he had made good progress and a doctor cleared him to fly to Bangladesh.

Teachers and pupils from Sidegate Primary and St Helen's Primary, his first school, have been left deeply saddened.

Debbie Broughton, a classroom assistant from St Helen's, described Jamil as “a little ray of sunshine”.

The 38-year-old was Jamil's one-to-one support worker at the school before he moved to Sidegate Primary and said: “He was lovely. He was a happy, cheeky little chap.

“As soon as there was a question asked he was up on his feet and at the front of the class answering questions.

“He was always popular. The children knew he was a special little boy.

“When he went to Sidegate I thought I'd love to visit him to see him again but that moment will never come now.”

Mr Malik, a chef at the family restaurant, the Koh-i-Noor in Upper Orwell Street, Ipswich, said it had been a struggle to operate the restaurant since Jamil's death but it has now reopened and he appealed for understanding from customers as the family dealt with the death.

Do you want to pay tribute to Jamil? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Tributes for Jamil

Emma, Ellie and Leah wrote:

My deepest sympathy goes out to the family of Jamil.

I will always remember Jamil for his lovely smile and playful nature. I will miss you at lunchtimes. x

Josephine Green wrote:

I am a year five teacher at Sidegate Primary School and I knew Jamil well. It is with great sadness that I try to take in the recent news about this very dear child. My thoughts are with his family, knowing how much courage they will be needing at this time. Jamil was such a friendly boy and his lovely nature sparkled wherever he went around school. I will never forget him.