SUNAMGANJ, Oct 6, 2024 (BSS) – Mohammad Hridoy, 27, who embraced martyrdom during the anti-discrimination student movement in Sunamganj, was deprived of his parents' love and affection since his childhood.

He has been placed in hearts and minds of the people for his heroic martyrdom, which motivated people to join the movement and finally ended the Awami League’s autocratic regime.          

He was buried at Painadi graveyard in Siddhirganj,  Narayanganj due to political turmoil of the country.

Hridoy's family members said he took part in a peaceful demonstration under the banner of  anti-discrimination student movement in Siddhirganj on July 20.

 When he along with other protestors reached Bhumi Palli residential area at around 6:30 pm, leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate organizations opened fire at the agitators following the order of Siddhirganj Thana unit Awami League President Mujibur Rahman.

Hridoy was shot at his forehead, leaving him dead on the spot. Later, some pedestrians took him in front of Sugandha Hospital, but they fled away realizing that Hridoy was already dead.

Being informed, Hridoy's aunt Shahida Begum and uncle Hares Mia took the body to their house.

Hares Mia said, "When we reached there at around 7pm, my nephew has already died...Our Hridoy died without receiving any treatment."

"When we were coming to our house with Hridoy's body...we saw that police were taking away about 15 bodies to an unknown place on a van," he said.

He said they could not take Hridoy’s body to their native village fearing harassment and arrest. Later, they buried Hridoy's body at Painadi graveyard in Siddirganj on the next day.

Hridoy was the first child of Safed Ali and Monowara Begum, residents of Durgapur village under Dharmapasha upazila in Sunamganj district.

When Hridoy was two-years- old, her parents got divorced. His father got married again.

Then, he started living with his mother at his grandparents’ house. But his mother got married when he was five years old. Since then, he had been living at his grandparents’ house.

Later, with a hope of living a better life, the family migrated to Siddhirganj in Narayanganj where they have been living for 20 years.

Hridoy studied till class IX at Siddhirganj Government Pilot High School. Later, he quit his studies for supporting grandfather’s family and started working at a Thai glass factory.

Mossarraf Hossain, another uncle of Hridoy, said that his parents could not see him for the last time as they could not reach Narayanganj from Sunamganj due to unstable situation across the country.

Hridoy’s grandfather Abdul Motalib, 86, and grandmother Hanufa Khatun, 78, have been shattered at the death of their beloved grandson.

Hanufa Khatun said, "Hridoy was an ill-fated person as he did not get love from his parents...Even after death, they could not see their son."

"But we will be upbringing his children in the way we brought up Hridoy," she said.

Shirina Akter, 22, wife of Hridoy, said they have two children - Abdullah, 3, and Nusrat, 1.

Shirina said, “We had only 4 years of married life. My husband was a very good man. He used to do glass and decoration work in various houses.

"We had so many dreams with our children...Now I don't know how I will bring up my children."

On August 22, a case was filed against several people, including  Siddirganj thana unit Awami League president Mujibur Rahman and its General Secretary Hazi Yasin, with Siddhirganj police station.

While talking to this correspondent over phone, Hridoy's mother Monowara said, 'I could not see my son for the last time due to country's volatile condition."

Mentioning that a case has been filed in this connection, she said, "I want justice for my son."

Hridoy's friend Saiful Islam who is a shopkeeper by profession, said, "He was my best friend. Though he used to work as labourer, he always had interaction with students."

Sunamganj district BNP organizing secretary and former chairman of Tahirpur upazila Kamruzzaman Kamrul on behalf of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman provided financial support to Hridoy’s family. Leaders of all organizations in Dharmapasha upazila and Jayashree Union units were also present.

Abul Kalam, member of Ward No. 1 of Jayashree Union Parishad of Dharmapasha Upazila, said "Mohammad Hridoy is the pride of our area."

Sunamganj district BNP President and Former MP Kalim Uddin Ahmad Milan, General Secretary Advocate Nurul Islam Nurul, Sunamganj Press Club President Principal Shergul Ahmad, District Jamaat Ameer Maulana Tofail Ahmad Khan, its General Secretary Mamtazul Hasan Abed, President of Jamiatul Ulamae Islam Hazrat Maulana Tafazzul Haque Aziz, General Secretary Maulana Tayibur Rahman Chowdhury, President of Khilafat Majlish Maulana Shakhawat Hossain Mohan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal JSD president Dewan Ishkandar Raja Chowdhury Subakt Raja and other local political leaders have expressed deep sorrow and condolence over the death of Hridoy.

They said though Hridoy died in another district, he will be considered as the first martyr of Sunamganj district.

As long as Surma, Kalni, Kushiara rivers continue to flow through the district, people of the district will remember this great martyr forever.

Dharmapasha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Giyasuddin and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dharmapasha police station Md Enamul Haque told BSS that the district and upazila administrations are taking preparation to extend financial support to Hridoy’s family.  

As his wife and children are staying outside Sunamganj district, the district administration will bring them there to provide the grants.