Martyred Md Shakil. Photo: Collected

Al-Amin Shahriar

BHOLA, March 25, 2025 (BSS) - Md Shakil, a 20-year-old sweet factory worker, courageously stood against the authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina's government in July-August mass uprising and embraced martyrdom. 

Shakil was the youngest of six siblings, born to the late Md Jalal Uddin and Shakinur Begum, hails from Kazirabad, Ward No. 5 of Badarpur Union in Lalmohan Upazila, Bhola.

Two years ago, financial hardships forced Shakil to leave his studies and start working in a sweet factory alongside his elder brother, Md Rakib, in the Bosila, Mohammadpur area of Dhaka.

 When the July uprising started spreading across the country, he felt compelled to stand with the people in their struggle.

On July 19, while actively participating in the movement, Shakil was fatally shot in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area. 

In a tearful voice, his mother, Shakinur Begum, remembered her son's bravery and determination, mourning his loss but honoring his sacrifice for the cause of freedom.

"I used to talk to my son on mobile almost every day. On Friday, after Jumma prayers, Shakil called me and asked how I was,' she said in a recent interview with BSS.

"Baba (father), don't go out. No matter who calls you, stay inside. But Shakil's response was chilling. "Mother, I am going to be a martyr," she added.

He had shared the same words with his elder brother, Md Rakib.

Shakil had lost his father, Jalal Uddin, five years ago due to paralysis. Following his father's death, his elder brothers enrolled him in a madrasah in Dhaka, where he memorized 20 paras of the Holy Quran.

His two elder brothers worked together in a sweet factory and lived in a room provided by their employer.

On July 19, Shakil had another phone conversation with his mother, checking on her health. She warned him against going outside due to the unrest in the area. However, Shakil once again reassured her, saying, "Mother, I'm going to be a martyr."

His brother Rakib also tried to stop him from leaving, but around 3 PM, Shakil left their room and headed to his elder brother Miraj's house in Dhaka Udyan, Mohammadpur.

Shakil's final conversation with his mother and brother carried an ominous message. Despite their pleas for him to stay indoors, he was determined to leave.

After briefly staying at his elder brother Miraj's house, Shakil left to join the movement with his friends.

His brother, Md Rakib, recalled the day saying "On July 19, around noon, after finishing work at the factory, we took a bath and offered Jummah prayers. Later, we returned to our room and had lunch."

"Around 3 pm, Shakil left the house, saying that he was going to his elder brother Miraj's house. After that, there was no trace of Shakil," said Rakib.

As evening fell, Rakib, after offering prayers at a local mosque, noticed a large crowd near the West Dhanmondi housing area. Curious about the commotion, he approached the scene-only to find his younger brother, Shakil, lying injured after being shot.

In a desperate attempt to save him, Rakib and others from the sweet factory rushed Shakil to a private hospital in Dhanmondi.

After receiving initial treatment at a private hospital in Dhanmondi, Shakil was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for advanced care. However, doctors there declared him dead.

The following day, his grieving relatives left Dhaka with his body, returning to their hometown. On Sunday, around 11 AM, Shakil was laid to rest in the family graveyard.

His middle brother, Md Rakib, recalled their efforts to provide Shakil with an education. "We tried our best to ensure he received proper schooling. He was admitted to two madrasas in Kamrangirchar and Basila in Dhaka," he said.

Shakil became a Hafiz of the Quran at the age of 20, his brother Md Rakib recalled. However, after completing his memorization, he did not continue his studies.

In 2022, he took a job at a sweet factory in Basila, earning a salary of Tk 8,000 per month. Since then, he and his brother lived together in a room provided by the factory.

Their mother, Shakinur Begum, shared the hardships she endured after losing her husband. "Since my husband's death, I have been working in villagers' homes to raise my children," she said.

Following Shakil's death, Jamaat-e-Islami and various individuals came forward with financial assistance, but the family has yet to receive any help from the government.

With grief and determination, Shakinur expressed her demand for justice. 

"Before I die, I want to see justice of my son's murderers. I want to witness the maximum punishment of Sheikh Hasina, who has taken countless sons like my Shakil," she said.