SAVAR, Dec 25, 2024 (BSS)- "Mother let me go to the procession. If I die there you will be proud mother of  martyr".
Alif Ahmed Siam left home by convincing his mother to participate in the movement as his could allow to join the protest.
When the anti-discrmination student movement has turned into mass upsring as autocratic ruller Sheikh Hasina launched ruthless cracdown by engaging members of law enforcement agencies on perace demonrstration of students.    

The whole country was shaken by a wave of massive protest as people joined student meovement to toople cruel ruller in the historym of mankind Sheikh Hasina. 

 The anti-discrmination student movement announched histiric "Long March to Dhaka" programmme on August 5. Alif sustained bullet injuries when he took part in the Long March to Dhaka programme.”

Alif Ahmed Siam is the eldest son of Bulbul Kabir and Tania Akter. They live in a rented house in Islamnagar area adjacent to Jahangirnagar University in Savar. Alif was a 10th class student of Savar Dairy Farm High School. He has a younger sister, Israt Jahan Lama, a seventh grader.
Bulbul Kabir deals in clothes at the floating market adjacent to 'Prantic Gate' area of Jahangirnagar University. In this adjustment, Bulbul Kabir and his son Alif Ahmed Siam used to regularly participate in the movement with the students of Jahangirnagar University during the July mass uprising. 

On August 5, Alif left without his father to participate in the Long March to Dhaka programme. In that noon, the police clashed with the agitators in the Savar Thana stand area. There, the police and Awami League activists fired indiscriminately on the participants of the long march. 

A bullet went through Alif's forehead. He fell to the ground there. Being under treatment for 2 days, Alif died around 5.30 pm on March 7 at Enam Medical College and Hospital in Savar.
Recalling the terrible times, Alif's father Bulbul Kabir said,  "The quota reform movement of the students was logical.  From the beginning I also went to the movement. My son Alif also used to join movement with me. On August 5, I could not participate in the long march programme due to the long distance. Alif's mother was not letting Alif go to movement that day."

In the beginning, Alif tries to convince his mother by saying different things. When the mother refused, at one stage he laughed and said to the mother, "Let me go, mother, if i die there, you will be proud of your son as a martyr. 

"His mother could not stop him after saying this. He goes to Dairy Gate of Jahangirnagar University with his friends." Bulbul added.

Alif participated in the long march programme with the students and mass people of the Savar area around 11 am that day. Police and Awami League activists prevented the procession participants from advancing in the Savar Bazar bus stand area. There was a clash between the two sides

"Later, when the news spread that Sheikh Hasina had fled around 2 pm, Alif left for Dhaka again with the victory procession.  When the procession reached the Savar Thana stand area around 2.30 pm, the police and Awami League activists again fired at the procession. There Alif was shot in the head," Bulbul added.

Bulbul said, "Alif's friends admitted him to Savar Labzone Hospital. Later he was transferred to Savar Enam Medical Hospital. There the doctor declared him dead on August 7 at 5.30 pm. 
On that day, his 1st namaz-e-Janaza was held at Islamnagar Central Mosque adjacent to Jahangirnagar University at 10pm and the 2nd Janaza was held at Shaheed Minar in Jahangirnagar University campus at 11.30pm. The next day at 9.30 am Alif was buried in his district Bagerhat after the 3rd Janaza.

Bulbul Kabir said in a tearful voice, "My son had a dream to become a pilot. That's why he got admission in science department. He was always busy with studies. Never supported wrongdoing. He was also a champion in sports. Won many awards in school level competitions. He used to dream of being a pilot and taking us to Hajj in his plane. Our dreams ended with my son's dreams."

Bulbul said that Alif's mother falls ill due to the loss of her son. They do not even have the condition to cook at home.

Bulbul Kabir said justice must be ensured for all those involved in the murder of my son. This is his request to the state.  Besides, all those who were injured in the movement should be given proper medical treatment.

"July Shaheed Smriti Foundation has given us 5 taka. But money alone is not everything to me. I don't want money. However, I request the state to take necessary measures to protect the memory of my son. Also, I request to name any infrastructure of the state or Jahangirnagar University after my son," he added.

Bulbul said the discrimination that he protested against, his son was martyred, those discriminations have not been removed yet. He want this new Bangladesh built by the blood of martyrs to be the country of mass people's dreams.

Towhid Siam, member secretary of JU Anti-Discrimination Student Movement said, "Many people from nearby areas participated in the July uprising along with Jahangirnagar University students.  Shaheed Alif is one of them. We can never repay this debt of his blood."

Siam said they have given financial honor to Shaheed Alif's family from July Shaheed Smriti Foundation. They also demanded the university administration to name a hall of Jahangirnagar University after him. He hope it will be implemented soon.

JU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Sohel Ahmed (Administration) said, "Shaheed Alif played an active role in the movement with Jahangirnagar University students from the beginning. The liberation of the people of the country has come in exchange for their blood. We want to make their contribution unforgettable."

"We have already contacted the family of Shaheed Alif. We sympathize with them.  JU administration will take necessary steps to remember him. We are considering naming any new building of the university after him", he added.