Shifatullah. Photo : Collected

KISHOREGANJ, April 15, 2025 (BSS) – Shifatullah (19) had a dream of serving the nation by becoming a great Islamic scholar. But, a bullet ruined his dream as he embraced martyrdom at an early age on August 5, 2024 while fighting to free the country from fascism.

Shifatullah, a tenth-grader (Sharh-e-Bekaya) at Jamia Islamia Emdadul Ulum Madrasa at Maona of Sreepur Upazila in Gazipur district, “was shot dead by members of law enforcement agencies at the C&B Abdar Mor in Maona when he joined the ‘March to Dhaka Programme’ there on that day.

He was the second child of Hafez Maulana Nuruzzaman (46) and housewife Mosammat Kamrunnahar (41) of Uttar Char Kaonagram in Pakundia Upazila of Kishoreganj among their four children- two sons and two daughters.

Shifatullah’s elder brother Md Hizbullah (21) is a Hafez-e-Quran. His two younger sisters are Mosammat Naima (16) and Nasihat (5).

While visiting their village home at Uttar Char Kaonagram of Jangalia Union, it was observed Shifatullah’s family lives in a remote village.

His parents enrolled him at the Madrsah at Maona in Gazipur hoping he would become an Islamic scholar.

“My son Shifatullah told me, “Baba, I want to study at the madrasah and become a great Islamic scholar”. But the autocratic Sheikh Hasina has shattered my son’s dream,” Shifatullah's grief- stricken father Nuruzzaman told BSS.

Nuruzzaman, a teacher at local Talimul Quran Husainia Madrasah, said he himself established the madrasah at the request of his younger son, Shifatullah.

He said Shifatullah joined the ‘March to Dhaka Programme’ under the banner of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Maona in the morning on August 5, 2024. When their procession reached at 2 No. point of C&B Abdar Mor, a bullet struck the right side of Shifatullah’s chest and exited through his back, leaving him spot dead.

Later in that evening, a teacher of Shifatullah’s madrasah informed his family about the tragic incident over phone.  Upon receiving the news, his family members took his body to the village home.

Following his namai-e-janaza, Shifatullah was laid to eternal rest at their family graveyard on the next day (August 6).

Demanding trial of his son’s murder, Nuruzzaman said, "I want to see those who shot my son like a bird walking towards the gallows."

About the financial assistance he received since Shifatullah’s death, Nuruzzaman said he received Taka 2 lakh from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Taka 1 lakh from the BNP.

Nuruzzaman urged the government to help develop the madrasah in Kaonagram in the district, where Shifatullah had many memories.

Shifatullah’s elder brother, Hizbullah, said his brother was very humble and well-mannered.

“No one in the village can say that he ever misbehaved with them. Whenever he came home during vacation, his only activity was teaching the children at our madrasa,” he added.

Hizbullah said Shifatullah had a particularly close bond with their mother. Shifatullah used to feed his mother with his own hands.

“Bhaiya, I will become a great Islamic scholar one day and teach at our madrasah. I will educate the village children here to become scholars,” he recalled as Shifatullah used to tell him.

“I want trial of those who killed my brother,” Hizbullah demanded.

Shifatullah’s paternal uncle, Mufti Mofazzal Hossain, said whenever Shifatullah came home, he used to take help from him (Mofazzal) regarding his study.

Shifatullah was a very shy boy by nature and felt embarrassed to talk too much, he said, adding, he preferred spending time alone and was particularly close to the younger students at the madrasah.

“At cost of Shifatullah’s blood, we have achieved a Bangladesh free from tyranny. We want trials of all killings carried out during the July Uprising. All killers should be brought to justice,” said Mofazzal.

Al Rafi, a student at Talimul Quran Husainia Madrasah at Kaonagram in the district, said whenever Shifatullah came home, he used to teach them.

“He used to play with us and we had fun. Now he has left this world, we pray for him. You should pray for him too,” he added.