KURIGRAM, Oct 3, 2024 (BSS) - Newly married Bithi Khatun never think about cruel fate of her life as she spent honeymoon period with her husband Ashiqur Rahman.
 
Irony of fate is that Bithi could not celebrate her first marriage anniversary because her husband Asiqur Rahman sustained bullet injuries during the anti-discrimination movement and embraced martyrdom after his long battle for survival.
 
But a brickbat hurled by Awami League supporters during the anti-discrimination student movement ruined all his dreams that emerged as a nightmare to his wife Bithi, making her widow with the memories of only seven months of conjugal life.

According to Ashiq's family members, he joined the anti-discrimination student movement on August 4 and he sustained bullet injury. He was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, but he was transferred to Green Life Hospital in the capital Dhaka as his condition deteriorated.

Later, Ashiq was shifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital where he breathed his last after 28 days fighting to survive.
 
Bithi is the daughter of Abu Bakar and Amena Begum of the same Bura-Buri union of Ulipur upazila. Asiq, a resident of Bura-Buri union of Ulipur upazila of Kurigram district, got married to Bithi Khatun this January. He was trying to get a job and seeing new dreams and hopes centering his conjugal life.

Ashiq, 22, was the eldest among four children of Chand Miah. He passed Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams from Panchpir Degree College here. Apart from continuing study, Ashiq used to help his father in his work.

After passing HSC, he was looking for a job. He faced a job interview three days before he received injury in the anti-discrimination student movement.

Talking to BSS, Ashiq's younger brother Atiqur Rahman said that they two brothers went separately to Kurigram to join the student movement in the morning of August 4. On that day, there was a huge clash between the protesters and ruling party supporters.

"I met once with my elder brother (Ashiq) during the clash between the protesters and Awami League men. He just told me that he was hit by a brickbat on his head. But, I was beaten much more than him by AL supporters," he said.

Atiq said he along with his friends took primary treatment after returning home from the movement on the day.

"On the next day (August 5), we two brothers also joined the victory procession. But in the evening, my brother suddenly started vomiting while he was at the local market in our area. Immediately we took him to a local doctor and then returned home," he said.

But Ashiq's condition was gradually worsening and he could not recognize anyone, Atiq said, adding, even though he recognized, he spoke in a slurred manner.

"As his condition was deteriorating rapidly, we took him to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. But from there he was referred to Green Life Hospital in Dhaka. After holding different tests, the Green Life Hospital authority referred him to the BSMMU," he said.

Atiq said during this hard time, student coordinators Umama and Aditi supported them in different ways including giving financial assistance.

"But, my brother lost his 28-daylong battle for survival on September 1," he added.

"My dream and my family have been broken! My life has been ruined. What will I do now?" bewildered Bithi was saying while she burst into tears.
 
She is now trying to stand on her own feet to turn around and sought cooperation of the concerned authorities to this end.

In a heavy voice, Ashiq's father Chand Miah said, "Ashiq lost his mother at the age of 5. He was groomed by his grandmother Ichiman Bewa".

Noting that he has yet to file any case over the killing of his son, he said, "We are poor people. To whom do we ask for justice?"

Ashiq's grandmother Ichiman Bewa wanted justice for her grandson's murder and expressed the uncertain future of Ashiq's wife.

"What will Ashiq's widow wife do now?" questioned Bewa.

Panchpir Degree College Principal Ajoy Kumar Sarker expressed profound shock at the death of their student Ashiq and said, "We will try to preserve the memory of Shaheed Ashiq and give his family financial assistance soon".