FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—The Bangladesh community in Southwest Florida is mourning the loss of Nilufa Easmin, a 48-year-old woman who was well known among local members.
A memorial for Easmin now sits at the convenience store where she spent part of her time at work. Her job is one many in the local Bangladesh community share, and her death has workers at convenience stores thinking about their own safety.
From inside Shop and Go Food Mart, Samir Syed, president of the Bangladesh Association of Southwest Florida, sat watching as updates on Easmin’s homicide case aired on WINK News. In court Wednesday, investigators called the suspect Rolbert Joachin’s attack calculated.
“I cannot believe people can be like this kind of, the act for one woman,” Syed said.
Syed calls it too close to home. The gas station where Easmin worked is not too far from his own store, maybe a couple miles away.
“She’s working a long time, almost 30 years, this kind of the job. She’s good, very good,” Syed said.
He’s worked at his convenience store for half as long, 15 years. In that time, he says he’s dealt with uneasy situations.
“A lot of people, they coming, they try to, sometimes they are unnecessary argument. They try to stealing,” Syed said.
But nothing like this. When asked what justice looks like, Syed was clear about his expectations.
“I want to see they can give you the highest justice,” Syed said. “There is no place for this town like this kind of the incident, you know, this kind of violence.”
The community is now working to support Easmin’s two daughters, now without their mother. Joachin is expected back in court next month.