Fayez Ahmed. -Photo: Collected

LAKSHMIPUR, April 22, 2025 (BSS) – “Maa (Mother), random firing is going on here now. I’ll call you later,” were the last words of Fayez Ahmed, a 31-year-old sanitary mechanic, to his mother over phone just before he was shot on July 21 in the Signboard area of the capital Dhaka during the 2024 mass uprising.

Recounting the last memories with her son, Fayez’s mother Sabura Begum burst into tears, saying that she had called her son around 6pm to inquire about him when Fayez assured her that he was safe and heading home from workplace.

“My son told me that he would call me after reaching home when I was hearing the sound of intense gunfire over the phone. At that moment, I heard a loud bang and everything became silent. I never spoke to my son again,” Sabura wailed.

While visiting his village home in Jhaudogi village of Raipur upazila in the district, this correspondent came to know that Fayez was the eldest among three siblings and the sole breadwinner of his family.

His family, including his wife Nur Nahar, 18-month-old son Rafi Mahmud, father Alauddin, mother Sabura and his younger brothers, were totally dependent on his income.

Fayez had moved to Dhaka over 12 years ago to support his family and worked tirelessly as a sanitary mechanic (pipe fitter).

His mother had called him after hearing news of clashes in the Jatrabari area of the capital during the anti-discrimination student movement in fear of any hazard that might occur. Tragically her fear came true.

Losing her only breadwinner son, Fayez’s mother now stares at a bleak future.

“How will we survive now? What will happen to Fayez's wife and his infant? Who will provide them with food?” Sabura spends her days thinking about these things.

She often weeps as she recalls her final conversation with son while Fayez’s father, Alaudin, remains speechless, consumed by grief.

“Two bullets ended my son’s life. I want justice for killing my son,” Alauddin lamented.

He said, “I had been working in Chattogram port. But I lost my job going to a protest during the military regime. Now I’ve lost my son in another protest. I want justice from the Almighty Allah”.

Describing the fatal incident, Fayez’s coworker, Md. Kashem said that Fayez had worked with him for two years. He earned Taka 700 per day.

Fayez had been living in a rented house in the Signboard area in the capital with his wife and 18-month-old son.

“On the evening of July 21, 2024 after finishing work around 5.30pm, Fayez was going home. On the way, he was shot twice in the head and neck and fell on the ground,” Kashem said, adding, he took Fayez to a nearby hospital by an ambulance.

Later,, he took Fayez to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the doctors declared him dead.

Kashem recalled that though Fayez had grown up amid poverty, he was a kind and well-mannered person.

Following an autopsy, Fayez’s body was brought to his village home here. He was laid to eternal rest in their family graveyard here.

After Fayez’s death, his grief stricken widow, Nur Nahar, and their baby son, Rafi Mahmud, have taken shelter in a relative’s home in Tongi, Gazipur.

Talking to BSS over the phone about her martyred husband, Nur Nahar broke down into tears.

“My husband was everything—my support and security. What crime did he commit to be shot dead?” she wailed. Nahar urged the government to arrest the killers of her husband and ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

“I want capital punishment for the killers,” she demanded.  

Officer-in-Charge of Raipur Police Station, Md Nizam Uddin Patwary, confirmed that Fayez was buried in their family graveyard in Jhaudogi. His wife and child now live in Tongi.

“The administration remains beside the family,” Patwary said, adding, the perpetrators will be brought to book.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s advisor and former MP of Lakshmipur-2 Abul Khayer Bhuiyan said BNP stands beside families of all martyrs, including Fayez Ahmed, who were killed in the movement to end Hasina’s dictatorship.

“We’ve supported the families of the martyrs and the injured. We’ll continue it,” he said.