By Syed Altefat Hossain 

DHAKA, Jan 3, 2025 (BSS) – Beauty Akter (45), mother of martyr Abu Bokor Rifat (23),  has plunged into deep shock for losing her beloved son forever during the mass uprising.  Her mind could not be diverted as she is still confined to cycle of sadness.         
 
Rifat, a 10th grader, embraced martyrdom on August 5 when he went out to express joy along with thousands of people on the streets in the city’s Jatrabari area following the downfall of autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina in face of the student-people uprising.

Beauty’s grief transcended her personal loss -- it became a poignant call for change. “My son dedicated his life to regain freedom for all. But where is the freedom? We are yet to enjoy the freedom in different sectors like public transport, education and health,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotions.

While talking to BSS over her son’s martyrdom in the student-people uprising that eventually ousted 16-year-long fascist regime she said, “In exchange for my son’s life, I want to see peace prevailing across the country, which is bringing an end to all types of bribery and corruption and ensuring equal rights for the poor and distressed.”

Expressing a swell of pride mixed with sorrow, Rifat’s father Md Aowlad Hossain (55) said, “I have no sorrow at the death of my son as he embraced martyrdom for the country. I wiped my tears right away after seeing thousands of people expressing joy over the collapse of the fascist regime”.

“It’s a matter of pride that my son has been able to bring smiles on the faces of the country’s people,” he said with an emotion-choked voice. 

Rifat, third among his four siblings, had always been passionate about justice, even when his mother warned him of the dangers of joining the anti-discrimination student movement. 

“If I am killed, I will be a martyr. If anyone embraces martyrdom, he doesn’t have any sin,” Rifat used to say this with confidence, which frightened and inspired Beauty.

Rifat’s elder brother Mahbub Rana (26) and second brother Saim Ahmed (24) are expatriates while his youngest sister Samiya Akter (15) is a Qawmi Madrasah student. Rifat’s family is living at Mohammadbag of the Rayerbag area of Jatrabari in the city.

Noting that Rifat had been joining the anti-discrimination student movement from the beginning, his father Aowlad remembered how Rifat had come home with rubber bullet wounds, hiding it from them until his sister discovered it. “He wanted to protect us from worrying,” he said.

Recalling the memory of Rifat on the day of his martyrdom, Aowlad said Rifat left the house around 10am and joined the movement along with other students in Rayerbag main road, tying the national flag on their head.

He said before leaving the house, Rifat had breakfast with paratas and kissed on his mother’s forehead and cheek while he was looking for adoration from his mother.

“But when I came out of the mosque after offering Asr prayer, some friends of Rifat came to me and asked me to go to Rayerbag along with them. When I reached Rayerbag, they told me that Rifat was in Matuail Hospital,” Aowlad said with a heavy heart, adding, he had sensed that his son was no more. 

“But we didn’t find Rifat there. Later, we found Rifat’s body at a private hospital beside Matuail Hospital,” Aowlad remembered with deep grief.  

Rifat’s bereaved father said he later came to know that his son was killed by policemen when he reached in front of Jatrabari Police Station along with thousands of people who were expressing joy over the downfall of the fascist regime.

Sharing the heartbreaking story of bidding final farewell to his beloved son, Aowlad with teary eyes said they laid Rifat to eternal rest at Kadamtali Family Graveyard here on the same day.

Expressing anger over the last 16-year regime, he said, “My son sacrificed his life to free the country from the fascist rule, as the people could not enjoy freedom in the last 17 years”.

“It was very difficult to walk on the streets wearing a Punjabi and tupi (hat). If any untoward incident occurred, the government arrested the people labeling them as Jamaat-Shibir,” he categorically said while expressing grievance over the Awami rule .

Rifat’s mother Beauty Akter is still traumatized since her son’s demise as she thinks that her life will never be the same again.

“Rifat was my youngest child. Though everyone is here, I cannot see Rifat. He will never return to me,” Beauty shared her feelings with sorrow.

Rifat was the embodiment of love and affection, always finding ways to express his bond.

“Whenever he returned home, he kissed my cheek. Now, no one adores me like him,” she burst into tears, recalling her son’s loving memory.      
  
Recalling Rifat’s habit of asking for Taka 20 before going out of the house, Beauty said in a heavy voice, “Now, no one seeks money from me. It’s an emptiness I feel every day.”

Recounting the memory of Rifat’s last asking for money, weeping Beauty said “Rifat wanted money in the morning on the day of his martyrdom when he was leaving the house to join the movement. But I couldn’t give him as I did not have a small note in the house”.

“However, my son asked me to give him some money after returning home. But he didn’t return alive,” she said with a trembling voice, adding, “I never thought I’d see my son as a corpse.”

Speaking about Rifat’s dream, his mourning mother said, “My son had a big dream. He wanted to go to Italy. He made his passport and deposited some money for that purpose.” 

“He promised me, ‘After I go abroad, I’ll buy a car for you and build a house with an air conditioned (AC) facility for you’. But those promises will remain unfulfilled,” Beauty reminisced with a heavy heart.

She said Rifat’s memories are still badly haunting her. “I cannot forget his laughter and his words even for a while. They echo in my ears all the time. His smile appears before my eyes. I cannot sleep since his demise,” wailing Beauty said while sharing her endless agony.

Rifat’s younger sister Samiya has been suffering from unbearable pain since her brother’s sad demise. “I cannot accept my brother’s death,” she said in a heavy voice. 

Rifat wasn’t just her brother -- he was her closest confidant. As two of her brothers are living abroad, he was Samiya’s anchor, her connection to home and family. “He was my nearest one,” she says with her voice trembling with grief.

But now, that bond has been brutally severed. “My brother was killed by police at the directive of Sheikh Hasina,” she accused, saying, “Why was my brother killed? He didn’t commit any crime. He only wanted justice.”

Her demand is simple but resolute: “I want those responsible for my brother’s death to face trial. I want justice for my brother.”

Aowlad said, “I demand capital punishment of those who killed my son.”