-Collage Photo

By Ridwan Ahmed

CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY, Aug 3, 2026 (BSS) - Shaheed Noor Hossain, the name immediately brings to mind an iconic image, his bare chest bearing the words “Shoirochar nipat jak”. He was killed during the anti-autocracy movement against Hussain Mohammad Ershad in 1987. 

Nearly four decades after the death of Noor Hossain, the protester who stood on the streets and became a symbol of resistance, another reflection of him seemed to emerge on the streets of Chattogram during the July Mass Uprising of 2024.

He is Abdullah Al Mamun, a student of the History Department of Chittagong University (CU), who was a classmate of Shaheed Hridoy Chandra Tarua and Dept Senior of Shaheed Farhad Hossain, who were killed during the July Mass Uprising. 

During the Movement, slogans written across Mamun’s chest and back “FREE QUOTA OR DIE,” “Kota theke mukti de, noile more kobor de” and “Dofa Ek dabi Ek, Quota not Comeback” spread widely at home and abroad.

Abdullah Al Mamun grew up in Bartipara, a remote village in the char area of Mymensingh Sadar, in a farming family. He is the third of four siblings. Overcoming various geographical, family and financial hardships, Mamun enrolled in the History Department of Chittagong University in 2022.

From the very beginning of the July Mass Uprising, Mamun was at the forefront of protests on the streets of Chattogram. Mamun said a photograph of the slogan “FREE QUOTA OR DIE” written on his chest was first published by an international news agency and was later carried by various local and international media outlets. The widespread publication greatly encouraged the protesters.

“I bought a tin of paint for Tk 150 and wrote various slogans on my chest and back for three consecutive days,” Mamun said. “On July 6, I wrote on my chest, ‘Chashar chele chasha keno?’, and ‘Kota theke mukti de, noile more kobor de’. On July 7, ‘FREE QUOTA OR DIE’ and ‘Dofa Ek dabi Ek, Quota not Comeback’. On July 8, I wrote on my chest and back, ‘Bullet or equality (1952-2024)’ and ‘BPSC, We want fair JOB’.”

With these slogans written across his chest and back, Mamun took part in protests at various locations, including CU Shaheed Minar and  Gate no-1, Sholashahar Station, Tigerpass, Muradpur, New Market and Bahaddarhat. He would stand at the very front of the processions and demonstrations, holding the national flag.

However, Mamun also claimed that his presence at the forefront of the movement made him a target of leaders and activists of the banned Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League. He said he was threatened at different times and was also chased by police.

“During the movement, for security reasons, I could not sleep in the same house for even two consecutive nights. We had to keep changing our residence,” he said.

Mamun said he faced a difficult situation in Muradpur on July 15. “That day, immediately after getting off the bus, the then Chhatra League leaders and activists attacked me. Somehow, I managed to escape and took shelter in an alley. Later, a woman about my mother’s age dressed me in her son’s T-shirt and disguised me as a hotel worker, saving me from the attackers,” he said.

At this point, he also recalled his friend Shaheed Hridoy Chandra Tarua. “Because I used to stay at the forefront of the movement, Tarua once told me, ‘Mamun, I’m worried about you. The way you go to the front of the procession bare-chested, the first bullet will hit your chest.’ But on July 18, at Bahaddarhat the killers riddled my friend’s chest with bullets. I still cannot forget this pain,” Mamun said.

Asked why he had joined the July Mass Uprising, Mamun said, “Three illegal elections in the past 15 years, enforced disappearances, killings, suppression of dissent, filing cases and attacks, and depriving people of their freedom of speech, these misdeeds made me angry with autocratic killer Hasina.”

Asked where he had found the courage and strength to take part in the movement, Mamun said, “Tunisian Bouazizi, the hero of the Arab Spring and Shaheed Noor Hossain, who was killed in the anti-autocracy movement against Ershad, greatly inspired me to take part in the July Mass Uprising.”

Abdullah Al Mamun is currently pursuing his master’s degree. He was an initial member of CU Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD). Later, he was expelled from JCD on October 16 last year on allegations of violating organisational discipline. However, Abdullah Al Noman, general secretary of CU Chhatra Dal, said they would consider withdrawing the expulsion order.

He said, “If Mamun demonstrates loyalty to the party, acknowledges and corrects his mistakes and works for the welfare of the university, students and the organisation, we will consider withdrawing his expulsion order.”