A family’s life is shattered after a speeding driver kills their father, yet he escapes jail time, leaving them heartbroken and angry.
Small Heath: It was a regular evening on August 9, 2023, when everything changed for the Uddin family. One of Mohammad Uddin’s sons dropped a bombshell in their family WhatsApp group: ‘dad has had an accident.’ Just ten minutes earlier, the 65-year-old had been struck by a speeding Toyota Aygo while crossing the road.
The driver, a teenager named Hamza Ahmad, was racing through a 20mph zone. Meanwhile, Shahnaz Parvin, Mr. Uddin’s daughter, was over 200 miles away in Cornwall. She got the news and her heart sank.
“From that moment our lives changed forever,” she shared in court, reading her emotional victim impact statement. She recalled the moment she found out, screaming and immediately video-calling her brother to see their dad. The sight was horrifying, and she knew her worst fears were coming true.
Shahnaz didn’t sleep a wink that night as her husband drove them back to Birmingham. She was in full-on survival mode, trying to keep everything together while dealing with the chaos of the situation. At the hospital, she took charge, talking to doctors and keeping notes for the family.
Her father had suffered severe head injuries. When she finally saw him, his head was swollen, and he was covered in blood. But in that moment of shock, all she could see was her beloved dad, her ‘Abbah’—the funny, generous man she adored.
Sadly, Mr. Uddin didn’t make it. He was a well-respected member of the Bangladeshi community in Small Heath, where he had lived for nearly 50 years. His funeral was attended by thousands, a testament to the love and respect he had earned over the years.
On the day of the funeral, Shahnaz said her last goodbyes, touching noses with him one last time. The loss hit hard, especially for his wife, Zuthsna Begum, who had been married to him for 37 years. She immediately changed her appearance, removing her jewelry and wearing only white, a shocking change for everyone who knew her.
Shahnaz described how her mother struggled with loneliness and mental health after losing her partner. They had done everything together, and now her mother had to rely on her children for support.
Mr. Uddin was the main provider for the family, and his passing left a huge gap. Shahnaz mentioned how he loved gardening and spent every spring and summer in the allotments with her. Now, her mother had to navigate life without him, which was a tough adjustment for everyone.
Adding to the pain, Mr. Uddin passed away just a day after Shahnaz’s son Ibraheem turned one. Balancing her grief while being a mom was incredibly challenging. She expressed how hard it is to understand the depth of loss unless you’ve experienced it yourself.
Shahnaz also had to deal with the practical side of things, sorting out her father’s affairs. It was a massive undertaking, filled with phone calls and emails for weeks. Mr. Uddin had five grandchildren, and since his passing, two more have joined the family. Shahnaz felt devastated that her son would grow up without his grandfather.
She reminisced about how her dad always made sure she rested when she visited and how he loved to spoil Ibraheem with fruit. The little things he did are what she misses the most.
In memory of Mr. Uddin, a charity called Road Peace put up a commemorative sign at the accident site. Unfortunately, it has been vandalized multiple times, which only adds to the family’s heartache.
To make matters worse, they faced hurtful comments on social media, blaming Mr. Uddin for the accident. But the police assured them he was not at fault. Shahnaz found the comments disgusting and felt powerless against the pain they caused.
For a long time, she couldn’t even go back to the scene of the accident. Just being near it brought back too many memories. She went through a whirlwind of emotions, including anger, but ultimately realized that nothing could bring her dad back.
It wasn’t until January 7, 2024, that Shahnaz saw the CCTV footage of the accident. Her father had looked both ways before crossing, only to be struck by Ahmad’s speeding car. The family gasped in court as they watched the footage, which confirmed their father’s innocence.
Ahmad, who admitted to causing death by careless driving, was sentenced to six months in prison but was released immediately after his lawyer argued for an appeal. This felt like a slap in the face to Shahnaz and her family, who feared he might get a suspended sentence instead.
Shahnaz described her father as the heart of their family, and without him, they felt lost. Ahmad’s appeal will be heard later, but for now, he walks free, leaving the Uddin family to grapple with their immense loss.
