A Surrey refugee family mourns 9-year-old Shomima after a tragic school-zone crash, as loved ones seek justice and support after fleeing years of violence.

A New Life Begins Then Shock Strikes

The Khan family had waited for safety for years. They had lived in a crowded refugee camp in Bangladesh after fleeing brutal violence in Myanmar. They had hoped Canada would offer calm and comfort. Yet, only four weeks after arriving in Surrey, their world broke apart.

A Routine Walk Turns Into Heartbreak

On Dec. 5, nine-year-old Shomima Khan walked out of Newton Elementary with her dad, Ayub. It felt like any other school day. She wore a new dress. She smiled. She held her father’s hand. Then, as they crossed 81 Avenue, a cube van came through the area. In an instant, everything changed.

The driver stayed at the scene. Police said the person is helping investigators. Even so, the family’s grief is overwhelming.

A Family Carrying Years of Pain

The Khans had escaped a crisis that forced more than a million Rohingya Muslims from their homes. Ayub’s brother, Nasir, who lives in Surrey, sponsored the family. He wanted them to live without fear. He wanted the children to grow in peace. He never imagined another tragedy would find them so fast.

Ayub speaks only Rohingya, so his nephew Ajis helps him share his voice. Ayub said he had simply walked his children home, like always. Then the collision took his daughter’s life. Ayub cried as he spoke. The shock still sits deep.

A Kind Child Remembered With Love

Shomima leaves behind two brothers and a sister. Her family says she was quiet, gentle, and easy to guide. She listened. She cared. She loved school, especially in Canada, where it felt safe and joyful.

On the day she died, she had rushed out the door because she felt excited about her dress. She wanted to show it off. She wanted to enjoy her new life.

Grief, Faith, and a Call for Justice

Nasir says he wants change in school zones so no other child dies like this. The investigation is still active, and police say they do not believe impairment was involved.

Meanwhile, Ajis has started a fundraiser to help cover funeral costs. He says the family finds comfort in their faith. In Islam, he explains, children who die young go straight to heaven. He believes Shomima is safe now, far from the pain she endured on earth.

Yet the family still hopes. They hope for justice. They hope for safer streets. They hope no other family faces a loss like this.

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