by Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Oct 26, 2024 (BSS) – Martyrdom of Abu Sayeed emerged as a symbol of student movement to motivate all levels of people for participating in student-people mass upsurge to oust autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina ending her 16 years barbaric regime.
 
The dictatorial regime of the former fascist Awami League government suppressed people’s freedom of expression through torture, oppression, murder and incidents like enforced disappearances. 
 
During the regime of the fascist government general people lost their right to protest against all injustice. This led to the student-people mass uprising.
 
Abu Sayeed, a brilliant student of the Department of English of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) was gunned down by police while he was standing alone, totally unarmed with arms stretched out, holding no weapons but a stick.
 
The cold-blooded killing of Abu Sayeed, the brave vanguard of the protest, ignited the movement. Abu Sayeed played a key role in the movement by sacrificing his life to liberate the country for the second time and the nation from tyranny, setting up a unique example of epic heroism.
 
 
BRUR Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. Showkat Ali, student coordinators and common students made these comments to BSS on Abu Sayeed's fearless leadership in revolutionary spirit and his influence on the university students.
 
 
More than three months have passed since the martyrdom of Abu Sayeed. Academic activities resumed again in BRUR. All students returned to respective classes, except Abu Sayeed. Even sitting in classrooms, his classmates remember Abu Sayeed.
 
The Vice-chancellor said Abu Sayeed is not born every day. Brave men like Abu Sayeed, are born once in a while.
 
“He is not an ordinary man who sacrificed his life to save the nation. I think Abu Sayeed’s  epic sacrifice and heroism immortalized him,” he said.
 
 
Every member of the university, including coordinators, general students and officers-employees, is proud of Abu Sayeed, who were involved with the anti-discrimination student movement in Rangpur.
 
By sacrificing his life, Abu Sayeed worked as one of the great heroes to liberate the country from the dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina. 
 
Despite coming from a  simple family, Abu Sayeed is now recognized as the most remembered hero of the second independence. His fame has spread across the world.
 
He said, “BRUR has become famous all over the world for Abu Sayeed’s outstanding contribution through self-sacrifice. He was undoubtedly brilliant. He passed the first job test in his life even before completing his graduation.”
 
Aby Sayeed has also secured 14th place in the merit list with CGPA 3.30 out of 4 in the university’s graduation examination. It proved that he was talented.
 
The Vice-chancellor said, "I learnt from students that Abu Sayeed was as brilliant as he was humble. All his classmates remember him with pride.”
 
The university was closed for a long time after the martyrdom of Abu Sayeed on July 16 last in the anti-discrimination student movement.
 
“I opened the university after taking charge as the Vice-chancellor. Students returned to campus, but couldn’t accept Abu Sayeed's absence.  
He said, “I went to the house of Abu Sayeed after taking the charge of the Vice-chancellor. I visited his grave and talked to his family members.”
 
During his visit to Rangpur with Advisors Md Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan, Chief Advisor to the interim government Dr. Muhammad Yunus promised to give employment to one of Abu Sayeed's family members.
 
 
Professor Showkat said, "I gave Sumi Khatun, the younger sister of Abu Sayeed, a job at her brother’s department (Department of English), respecting the promise of the Chief Advisor.”
 
Honoring the demand of Abu Sayeed's family and students, a residential hall will be built in his name.

In response to another question, he said, "I spoke to the students only after taking charge as the Vice-chancellor. They demanded speedy and fair trial of Shaheed Abu Sayeed's murder.”
 
 
He said, “I have constituted an inquiry committee in this regard. The committee has already given its sealed report. The report will be published in the syndicate meeting on October 28 next and the syndicate will take the next decision accordingly.”
 
 "I want Abu Sayeed's anti-discrimination spirit and fearless patriotism to spread among people from all walks of life. I hope the nation shall never forget him," said the Vice-chancellor.
 
Rakib Ahmed, a student of the Department of English, said that academic activities have already started in the university. Students of the department are back for classes-examinations.
 
“But our brother Shaheed Abu Sayeed will never return to class. I cannot express in words how empty I feel when I come to class. When I see the spot where Abu Sayeed was shot and killed, I become somewhat silent and speechless.”
 
Like other agitating students, Tauhidul Haque Siam, a student and journalist, who was with Abu Sayeed on July 16, said that he was very brave, determined and a true patriot.
 

He had only a simple stick in his hand when police fired reckless rubber bullets, tear gas and bullets. He didn't move, he stayed next to the wooden bridge. Meanwhile, 5/6 policemen surrounded him and brutally tortured him and made him bleed.
 
Siam said, "I tried to save Abu Sayeed. Meanwhile, Sayeed kept telling the police 'shoot me, shoot me'. At that time the police did not shoot.”
 
Later, the dictator's associates BRUR teachers Asad Mondal and Moshiar Rahman, officials Abul Kalam, Tapas Kumar Ghosh, employees Nurunnabi, Johnny and Noor Alam pelted bricks and abused the students.
 
“While everyone moved away, Abu Sayeed did not move. The police started shooting at him from very close range. Abu Sayeed fell down. When I along with other protesting students were taking him away, the police fired again,” he said.
 
“Sixty pellets entered through different parts of my body. Abu Sayeed was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital by other students. Ahmadul Haque Alvi, a student who was beside me, also took me to that hospital,” Siam said.
 
He said, “I found 15/16 injured students including the body of my brother Abu Sayeed who already embraced martyrdom at the hospital. I left the hospital for safety reasons after receiving first aid. Abu Sayeed's martyrdom gave us more courage. "
 
Another coordinator and a student of the Department of Bengali Shamsur Rahman Suman said people of the country was massively shaken when they saw a police member fired on Abu Sayeed through video.   Subsequently he embraced martyrdom that shaped on-going student movement with huge anger and outrage which ultimately ousted autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.        

   
“Sheikh Hasina, fled to India to save herself from the wrath of protesters and the second independence of the nation was achieved,” he said.
 
Abu Sayeed's extraordinary and strong leadership constantly accelerated the anti-discrimination student movement.
 
Due to financial constraints, Abu Sayeed used to have two tuitions every day from 3 pm to evening. He knew a lot of information about everything.
 
“Abu Sayeed organised every procession-meeting smoothly. He used to inspire everyone with informative speeches with great confidence and courage to make the anti-discrimination student movement a success,” Suman added.
 
Sabina Yasmin, a student of the Department of English and coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, said that Shaheed Abu Sayeed was junior to her by one batch in the same department.
 
“By leading the anti-discrimination student movement from the beginning, Abu Sayeed played a strong role in successfully mobilizing the movement in and around the university,” she said.
 
Under his guidance, Sabina tried to organize female students of her residential hall and involve them in the movement with the help of her colleagues.
 
She also spoke directly as a female student with Abu Sayeed in meetings, marches and in the media.
 
Sabina said, "Abu Sayeed often used to say, we will leave after fulfilling the demands. He had a strong determination which motivated everyone to join the movement.”
 
Mahid Hasan Shakil, a student of Accounting and Information Systems Department and a coordinator of anti-discrimination student movement, said that Abu Sayeed always stood by everyone's side in times of danger and came forward to help.
 
He said, "We will never see Abu Sayeed in our campus again. This void will remain in our hearts forever. But his patriotism and self-sacrifice will always inspire us to make any kind of sacrifice for the country’s.”
 
Md Rahamat Ali, a student of CSE Department and coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, said that after the martyrdom of Abu Sayeed on July 16, a scary situation was created in the campus.
 
After losing Abu Sayeed, most of the students were emotionally depressed.
 
Police, BRUR and Metropolitan units of Chhatra League, Jubo League and their armed thugs created a volatile environment in the campus and surrounding areas.
 
He said, “On July 17, we took great risk and participated in the Ghaibana Namaz-E-Janaza of Shaheed Abu Sayeed near Gate No. 2.”
 
He said after the martyrdom of Abu Sayeed, the university was closed on that day and the students were ordered to leave the hall.
 
Subsequently, in his absence on July 18 and 19, the movement became difficult amid aggressive patrolling, intimidation and threats by large numbers of police, BGB and RAB, and due to internet problems.
 
A large number of students and people were killed and were injured in police firing during the march of thousands of students in the entire city including BRUR.
 
“A curfew was then imposed on July 20. Abu Sayeed's self-sacrifice did not stop us from taking part in the movement despite the threat of death. We didn’t leave the streets and bravely continued the movement on the path shown by Abu Sayeed," Rahamat said.
 
Finally, on August 5, the final victory of the student-mass upsurge was achieved through the escape of the fascist dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina.
 
When asked why Abu Sayeed raised both hands and stood in the face of police fire, BRUR students Bayezid Bin Rashid, Iman Ali, student coordinators Sabina Yasmin, Shamsur Rahman Suman, Rahamat Ali and Mahid Hasan Shakil gave their comments.
 
They said that while leading the movement, Abu Sayeed was physically traumatized due to the systematic attacks conducted on him by the President of BRUR Chhatra League, Pomel Barua, its General Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman Shamim and leader Masum.
 

“But the void of his absence will never be filled. His memory is living in our minds. His killers are yet to be punished. His murder trial must be completed quickly. Abu Sayeed will live forever among all our countrymen,” Sabina said.