by Syed Altefat Hossain

DHAKA, Dec 4, 2024 (BSS) - Family members of martyr Md Rana, are facing a double blow losing their lone breadwinner on August 5 when he (Rana) joined the victory procession in the city's Jatrabari area following the downfall of autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.

Rana, who was the only bread earner of his five member family, went out of his residence in Sheikhdi area of Jatrabari around 3.30pm and joined the joyous procession along with thousands of people soon after hearing the news that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country.

"When Rana reached the Jatrabari Police Station area with hundreds of people around 4pm, he was shot in the back of his head by a bullet and the bullet remained stuck inside, as police were firing bullets indiscriminately at the jubilant people on the street," family members said.

In a video of August 5, which went viral, police were seen coming out from Jatrabari Police Station in troops, hunting down the protesters in the streets and shooting them like birds, leaving many people spot dead.

Since Rana's martyrdom, his wife Lucky Akter Zunaki (24), only son Junaed Hossain Ifran (5), younger sister Sharmin Akter, a 12th grader in vocational institution, and mother Swapna Akter (50) are seeing sparks before their eyes losing only breadwinner of the family.

"He (Rana) was our only brother among three siblings. My elder sister Sumi Akter has been married off years back. Since our father Shahab Uddin died in 2015, Rana was the only male member and sailor of our family. His sudden death left nothing but uncertainty for us," Rana's bereaved sister Sharmin Akter said at an interview with BSS recently at their Sheikhdi residence.
 
Rana joined the anti-discrimination student movement occasionally during the uprising that eventually toppled Sheikh Hasina's government ending about 16 years' autocratic rule. "But he never talked with his family members about his participation in the movement," Sharmin said with heavy voice.

She said around 4.30pm on the day, her Mama (maternal uncle) Md Ismail Hossain called her and said that someone informed him over phone that Rana got hit by a bullet in his head in Jatrabari area.

"We don't know who made the call. But hearing the news, my Mama and I immediately rushed to the spot and found my brother alive. Then we took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH)," bereaved Sharmin said, claiming that her brother didn't get proper treatment at the hospital as there was no doctor on that day.

"Later, we took my brother to Islami Bank Hospital in Motijheel. As soon as we entered the hospital, he breathed his last around 8.15pm," weeping sister of Rana said, adding, even though the duty doctor declared Rana dead, they kept him on life support there until August 6 morning thinking that he might have survived.

"But, on the morning of August 6, finally we have been confirmed that our belief was wrong. It is the cruel reality that my brother left us forever. We lost our only resort," Sharmin said in an emotion-choked voice.

Later, they received the body from the hospital and buried Rana at the Matuail graveyard on the same day.

However, Sharmin and Rana's wife Lucky have started selling three-piece salwar kameez and ceramic products from home to manage their livelihood. "Having no way left to manage the family, Bhabi (Rana's wife) and I decided to sell second hand clothes such as three-piece and ceramic products with very little capital," said Sharmin.

They can hardly earn about Taka 8000 to Taka 10,000 in a month while they have to pay Taka 8,000 as house rent, she said, adding, "The death of my brother pushed us to uncertainty. Since his death, we are going through an acute financial hardship".

Hailing from Maijdi of Noakhali Sadar upazila, the family has no land or home left in their village to go back. Therefore, they have no alternative to living in a rented house, Sharmin said, adding that all of her siblings were born in Dhaka as her father had been a rickshaw puller in the Sheikhdi area for a long time.

Rana's sudden death also created an uncertainty over Sharmin's study as Rana used to bear all of her educational expenses. "I don't know whether I can continue my study anymore," she said in an emotion- choked voice.

Sharmin said they didn't get any assistance from the government except Taka 2 lakh from Jamaat-e-Islami.

Asked about whether his brother's name was enlisted in the martyrs' list of student-people uprising, she said, "We do not know about it. We don't even know how to apply. As we have no male person in the family, it is very hard for us to go outside".

Rana's wife Lucky was too shy to talk to BSS while finally she shared her agony briefly.

"My husband was the only resort for us. His death left us distraught. Darkness has engulfed me as I lost my husband at such an early age," bereaved Lucky said.

She sought cooperation from the government for bearing the education cost of her son so that he can continue his study up to higher education.

"My five-year-old son is the only resort for me to survive now as I have nothing except him. Please, extend your hands of cooperation to raise my son as an enlightened citizen of the country," weeping Lucky said, referring to the government.

Moreover, the family members expressed deep sorrow for losing all of their photos, videos and memories with late Rana as someone stole Rana's Smartphone which had all the family photos and documents in it.
 
"Losing the Smartphone which my brother carried, we eventually lost all of his memories and family photos," said Sharmin.

Rana's family members demanded capital punishment of the killers.
 
Observing his aunt and mother talking about his martyred father, Rana's son Junaed Hossain Ifran came to this correspondent and said, "Uncle, do you know? My father was very good. He used to give me and my cousins many things including chocolate, biscuits, cheeps and clothes. I miss my father".

Ifran said he is currently studying in class-1 at a local madrasah in the Sheikhdi area and expressed his willingness to study further.