By Mohammed Shah Nowaz

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 6, 2025 (BSS) - “Let us come at Sholashahar” this was the clarion call made by martyr Wasim Akram on his verified Facebook account at around 2pm on July 16, 2024.

After his call, he jumped into hot spot of the movement - Sholashahar and embraced martyrdom within two hours when police and ousted Awami League goons made reckless firing on student rally there.  

Wasim’s martyrdom in a short span of time when police gunned down another iconic martyr Abu Sayeed in Rangpur, had an electrifying effect throughout the greater Chattogram as elsewhere across the country that generated much hype and determination to the student-led Anti -Discrimination Movement.    

In mid-July last year, the historic port city got tensed but seemed unusually noiseless for thin traffic and mass movement as the student-led quota reform movement got momentum following daylong series of attacks on peaceful gathering of students by law enforcers along with Juba League and Chattra League armed cadres wearing helmets at different spots.  

As news of one-sided barbaric attack on peaceful students particularly the female students resulted in scores of injuries, Wasim Akram -- a handsome and courageous Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD) leader could not hold him back and made a clarion call to all through his verified FB account “Let us come at Sholoshahar” the most hotspot of the city at about 2 pm on July 16, 2024.   

From stepping into battlefield to embracing martyrdom, the way Wasim Akram got himself involved with the historic July uprising along with inviting and inspiring others, the valiant hero had set an example for generations as it was the true path to snatch and ensure their inherent right from the clutches of autocratic and fascist rulers.

“He seemed to have been mentally ready for making supreme sacrifices in advance” Salahuddin Shahed, city JCD joint convener viewed adding that “If not so, why he disseminated such call to others just like a dying declaration ahead of his final moments”.

Day before his death, Wasim wrote another status in his social media account saying “My beloved organization stands beside general students. I will embrace martyrdom with this identity.”

Like Shahed and JCD CU General Secretary Abdullah Ala Mamun many of his friends and organizational colleagues, who were accompanying Wasim during the daylong intermittent fierce clashes, are still   discussing and recalling his heroic moment of embracing martyrdom. Wasim’s classmates, close JCD leaders and workers particularly who witnessed the incidents of the violent day and the courageous role of Wasim, started weeping while talking about the bravery of comrade-Wasim. 
     
Hailed from Mehernama village under Pekua upazila in Cox’s bazar district, Wasim was second among his siblings (two brothers and three sisters). His father Shafiul Alam is an expatriate who is on service at a private company in Qatar in Middle East and elder brother Mohiuddin is also a service holder. Another brother and two sisters are still continuing studies.
 
Wasim was a student of honours 3rd year at country’s one of the best educational institutions –Chattogram Govt. College and he achieved 1st class in honours final examination result that was published after 3 months of his martyrdom.
 
“He was a devoted student, besides he dedicatedly involved himself in regular organizational activities. He was not like others as he was very polite and obedient, he always kept himself aloof from any unruly or indiscipline activities” Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and also a BNP leader told BSS recalling the unique characteristic and brilliance of martyr Wasim.
 
“I had been in constant contact with JCD leaders and workers including Wasim who joined the movement on July 4 last year, Dr. Shahadat said adding that “I tried to move towards CMCH when I got information of Wasim’s bullet injury, but I could not, as armed AL cadres gathered and were moving towards CMCH campus. Over phone I asked on-duty doctors at CMCH emergency dept to send him to surgery ward within short time, but by that time he was declared dead.”
 
 He said instantly he talked to BNP national standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed who is also from Pekua upazila and he advised me to make sure that the postmortem of Wasim’s body was completed, before sending his body to village home.
 
“Police were trying to hide the dead body of Wasim from hospital without postmortem.  Postmortem of Wasim’s body was performed as Salahuddin Ahmed played very active and bold role,” the mayor said.
 
Narrating the horrific and heavily tensed situation on August 4, Salahuddin Shahed told BSS that a  number of students were injured and they could not find a safer place to stay after random attack on them by Juba League and Chattra League leaders equipped with arms and lethal weapons led by city Juba League President and AL lawmaker Mohiuddin Bacchu, notorious terrorist Helal Akbar Chowdhury Babar and BCL city unit President Nurul Azim Rony – a close associate of former Education Minister Nowfel.
 
On the fateful day, Salahuddin Shahed along with a group of JCD workers totaling 70 to 80, Wasim and his two close friends - Saiful Karim Ariyan and Nayim Bhuiyan were staying at a place near Muradpur area and at one stage they joined with a procession of general students to chase them (AL goons) from the spot.
 
“But at one stage -- the armed goons in presence of apparently silent law enforcers started indiscriminate firing -- and a number of students received bullet injuries including Wasim and two others who were standing very close to him at about 3.30 pm on July 4,” Shahed said with tearful eyes.  
 
Russel Ahmed, central coordinator of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement told BSS that they along with Martyr Wasim forged a strong resistance together when AL backed armed hoodlums' side by side police jumped on innocent students on July 16 of 2024.
 
“His bravery and determination during such a volatile situation had generated much vigor among the students and masses as well as inspired us to march forward risking our lives,” Russel –one of the stalwarts of student-mass upsurge said recalling memories of those days.    
 
Russel said adding, “The huge sacrifices made by mass students and people will never go in vain as their sacrifice has given us another opportunity to rebuild a new Bangladesh.    
 
Wasim’s father Shafiul Alam said my son’s dream of going Europe for higher studies have fade away following his untimely but tragic death. He requested me often for money when he planned to participate in any party program of occasion. “I never refused him but warned him to be careful”.
    
“I feel proud of my son as he sacrificed his life for a noble cause, freeing his motherland and people from a barbaric regime but our dream have been shattered. As a parent, we will never forget the memory of such a golden son who always used to tell truth, avoid telling lie and was very gentle,” Shafiul told in an emotion-choked voice.
 
Shahin Reza -- a teacher of Mehernama High School where Wasim studied and completed his SSC -- burst into tears recalling the memories of Wasim’s school life and said “When he came at his village home from Ctg College, he used to talk with us, played badminton and football. The vacuum created in the surrounding school campus and village can never be filled following death of such a vibrant and smiling boy like Wasim.

Wasim’s father Shafiul Alam demanded capital punishment of the killers, who killed innocent people like birds and left hundreds of mother’s heart empty.

“My earnest appeal to the government as well as people of the country is to ensure justice so that the killers could not go unpunished,” this was the humble appeal of a martyr’s father while talking to BSS with a shocked tone.