Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Chanchal

Shaheed Md. Rafiqul Islam Chanchal was born on November 11, 2003, in the village of Rupsa, under the Ullail Union of Shibaloy Upazila, Manikganj District. His father's name is Md. Rais Uddin, and his mother's name is Moza: Chayina Begum. His father is a farmer, and his mother is a housewife. In addition to Rafiqul, Rais Uddin and Chayina Begum have another daughter named Nur Nahar. Perhaps the village got its name "Rupsa" for the beauty of the surroundings. The village is incredibly scenic, both stunning and diverse. The Padma River flows beside Rupsa, making the area uniquely distinct from other villages.
It was in this village that Shaheed Rafiqul Islam grew up. From a young age, Rafiqul was known for his polite and calm nature. Although gentle, he would never remain silent when faced with injustice. As a result, he was loved by everyone, from neighbors to classmates. Rafiqul completed his primary education at a local school before enrolling in Wahid Ali High School. He passed the SSC examination in 2018 with distinction from the humanities department of this school.
The Movement of That Day and His Martyrdom
In January 2018, students began a continuous series of protests and human chains demanding the reform of the quota system. As a result of the relentless movement by the students, the authoritarian Hasina, in order to maintain her grip on power, issued an executive order to abolish the 46-year-old quota system for first and second-class government jobs. Subsequently, in 2021, some individuals, including Ahidul Islam, filed a writ petition in court to reinstate the discriminatory quota system. On June 5, 2024, the High Court bench of Justices K.M. Kamrul Kader and Khizir Hayat annulled the order. Immediately following the judgment, students from various universities in Dhaka and across the country gathered once again to protest seeking quota reform. As the student movement intensified, the brutal Hasina unleashed the military and the Awami League’s terrorists on the students.
In a combined attack by Hasina’s terrorist forces, the police, RAB, BGB, and the army, hundreds of innocent students and citizens were killed. According to reports from local newspapers on July 31, 2024, over 266 people were killed, and more than 6,000 were injured in a nationwide attack. The people of the country were enraged. Desperate to suppress the movement, the tyrant Hasina ordered the military to use even greater force. As a result, the death toll continued to rise in the following days. Eventually, when the situation reached a tipping point, the students announced the "March to Dhaka."
On August 5, in response to the students' call for a protest and to demand justice for the hundreds of innocent people killed, people from all walks of life began to gather at Paturia Ghat in Manikganj from early morning. By 2:30 PM, the students and citizens were still protesting peacefully. From the beginning, the police had been firing rubber bullets and tear gas to suppress the protesters, but the students continued to resist. Rafiqul Islam Chanchal played an active role in the movement, encouraging the students and the public not to lose hope. He assisted the injured from the rubber bullets and tear gas shells to the best of his ability.
At one point, the police at the Paturia river station surrendered and lowered their weapons, but as they were leaving, they fired several rounds towards the protesters. Rafiqul Islam and several others, including Sakib, approached the police to check if anyone had been injured. As they approached, the police fired indiscriminately, and Rafiqul Islam Chanchal was shot in the stomach. He fell down to the ground and passed away shortly after. The news of his Martyrdom spread quickly.
The protesting students and thousands of citizens gathered at the Shibaloy police station, where they surrounded it with Rafiqul’s body. In anger, the protesters set fire to the station. The death of Rafiqul Islam was unbearable for the students and citizens who had been protesting alongside him. At the same time, news arrived that the tyrant Hasina had fled. With Hasina’s departure, the students now understood what true sacrifice meant. That day, they realized that:
“Through the ages, Shaheeds give their fresh lives,
Writing songs of freedom and liberation.
The taste of freedom is never truly taken,
Shaheeds seek it, and once again, they are struck.”
Shaheed Rafiqul Islam - Immortal in Memory
Reflecting on his memory, Rafiqul Islam’s elderly father shared, "My son was always just and rebellious. He never tolerated injustice. That’s why he was on the streets from the very beginning of this movement. He had a 15-month-old daughter, yet he never turned away from the struggle for the country’s freedom." When we spoke with the Shaheed’s mother, she was too burdened with grief to express himself. With tears in her eyes, she repeatedly called for justice for her innocent son and all the other innocent lives lost in the anti-authoritarian movement.
Shaheed’s Family Financial Situation
Shaheed Rafiqul Islam Chanchal's family is of lower-middle class status. After completing his SSC exams, he entered the workforce. For the past few years, he worked at a shipbuilding factory in Narayanganj. However, his dream was to go abroad and improve the lives of his poor family. About a month ago, he had deposited nearly two lakh taka with an agency to go to Italy. He had been told that his visa would be processed soon, and he had left his job in Narayanganj to return to his village.
At the time of the student uprising, he participated in the movement and was Martyred on the very day of its victory. His elderly father is now the only earning member of the family. Rafiqul’s younger sister is studying in the twelfth grade, and his recently widowed wife and 15-month-old daughter are left behind. The future of this family is now a matter of great concern.
Key Information About the Shaheed at a Glance
Name : Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Chanchal
Date of Birth : November 11, 2003
Occupation : Welding Worker
Father's Name : Mohammad Rais Uddin
Father's Occupation
and Age : Farmer, 55 years
Mother's Name : Mosha: China Begum
Mother's Occupation
and Age : Housewife, 40 years
Wife's Name : Shabnur Akter
Wife's Occupation
and Age : Housewife, 20 years
Family's Monthly Income : 10,000 Taka
Current Family Members : 5
Child's Name, Age,
and Relationship : Mosammat Raisa Akter, 15 months old, Daughter of the Shaheed
Perpetrators : Police officers of Paturia Naval Police Station
Location of Injury : Paturia River Terminal Area, Shibaloy, Munshiganj
Time of Injury : August 5, around 2:40 PM
Location of Death : Paturia River Terminal Area, Shibaloy, Munshiganj
Time of Death : August 5, 3:00 PM
Shaheed's Grave
Location : Rupsa Baitul Jannat Graveyard, Shibaloy, Manikganj
Permanent and
Current Address : Village: Rupsa, Union: Ulail, Upazila: Shibaloy, District: Manikganj
Proposals for Assistance
Proposal-1: Provide monthly financial assistance for the Shaheed's 15-month-old orphaned child and wife.
Proposal-2: Provide one-time financial assistance to the Shaheed's poor farmer father.
Proposal-3: Provide a scholarship for the Shaheed's college-going sister.