Md. Sayad Mahmud Khan (Antor)

Shaheed Sayad Mahmud Khan was born on August 6, 2012, in Dhalla Khan Para village, Dhalla Union, under the Singair Upazila of Manikganj District. He was the second child of his parents, Mohammad Bahadur Khan and Mosha Halima Akter. His village, Dhallapara, is located beside the Dhaleshwari River. Every morning for little Sayad Mahmud began amidst the abundance of trees and the chirping of birds. When the sun would break through his sleep, he would likely wander through the village's dirt paths, living out his mischievous childhood.
At the time of Sayad Mahmud's birth, his father was abroad. During this time, his loving mother provided him with all the care and warmth he needed, and those were the sweet days of his childhood, spent under her protective embrace. After a while, his father returned, and the long waiting to see his little Sayad was over. With his return, the father too seemed to relive his own childhood, delighting in playing with his little son Sayad. However, just after a short time, he had to go abroad again in search of livelihood.
Sayad Wanted to Be a Da’i Ilal Allah, in order to Spread the Sweetness of Islam
Although the natural beauty of the village used to fill Sayad's heart with serenity, his whole family eventually had to move to the city. His elder sister, Taslima Khan, secured admission to a college in the Savar area after completing her SSC exams, and so the family rented a house near the Model College in Shaheebagh, Savar, bringing along their younger children, Sayad and Nursat. From a young age, his family had wished to see him become a Da’i (Islamic preacher) spreading the message of Islam. Sayad had no objections to this; even in his early childhood, he frequently visited the mosque. Regardless of how much he played, as soon as the call to prayer (azan) was heard, Sayad would immediately head to the mosque without wasting any time. He would even stand for prayer with his friends before returning to play. Because of this, Sayad’s introduction to learning was through the madrasa. Within a short time, he completed the memorization of two parts of the Qur’an at Markazul Uloom Ashrafia. However, Sayad also wanted to be proficient in other subjects, along with his hifz (memorization). He aspired to spread Islam worldwide with the same sweetness as the world-renowned scholar, Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azhari. Therefore, he was later enrolled at Jabal-e-Noor Madrasa. This was where his dreams began to take shape.
Before dawn’s first light, Sayad Mahmud would wake up. After performing Fajr prayer, he would start memorizing the Qur’an. After a short break at home, he would return to the madrasa. This routine formed the foundation of his dream of becoming a Da’i Ilal Allah (inviting people to the way of Allah).
Football Was Sayad’s Heart and Soul
From a young age, Sayad was passionate about sports, particularly football. Whenever he found some free time, he would rush to the field to play. Even when there wasn’t enough time to go to the field, he would practice football in some corner of the house. Every afternoon, he would consistently go to the field. Due to his skill, his friends held him in high regard. On Fridays, during the weekly holiday, he couldn’t be stopped from going to his village home in Manikganj. Sometimes he would travel alone from Savar to his village because the lush green fields in his village were not something he could find in the city of Dhaka.
Relatives’ Memories
Reflecting on Sayad, his father recalls, "About a month ago, he insisted on buying a pair of football boots. At that time, I was with the family in the village. Where would I find football boots in the village market? After searching several nearby markets, we found the boots he wanted, and he liked them. However, the boots cost 1,200 Taka, and we didn’t have enough money after paying for the fare to return home. So, while I bought him the boots, I couldn’t afford to buy him ankle guards. But Sayad was excited and said that he would buy the ankle guards with his saved-up money." Saying these words, Sayad’s father broke down in tears.
Sayad Never Returned from the Protest
On July 20, for the third consecutive day, the whole of Bangladesh was without internet. The army could be seen patrolling various parts of the country under curfew. The protests were still ongoing, and the number of Shaheeds had already exceeded a hundred. On the previous day, at least 66 people had died in the violence, and hundreds were injured. The clashes intensified in areas like Badda, Rampura, Uttara, Jatrabari, and Mohammadpur in Dhaka. In protest, on July 21, the protesters gathered peacefully in the southeastern corner of Savar New Market near the Savar Bus Stand.
However, armed thugs from the Awami League, including leaders of the youth and student wings, and other armed groups affiliated with the party, attacked the students with bats and fired guns at them. The brutal assault was led by identified criminals such as Rana, also known as Basy Rana, and Atikur Rahman Atik, the President of Savar Upazila Chhatra League, along with others. These thugs received assistance from the police, who were complicit in the regime’s violent acts.
As the sound of gunfire grew louder, the slogans of the protesters intensified. Sayad and his elder sister were watching the scene from the roof of their rented house. When he quietly descended the roof, his 10-year-old cousin, Hasib, saw him and asked where he was going. Sayad Mahmud replied, "I’m going to the protest. Don’t tell anyone at home."
"The Nation Drowns in the Flow of the Hot Blood of a Hundred Shaheeds
The Young Sayad Went to the Procession, To Join Them as a companion."
Sayad Mahmud went to Savar after informing his cousin Hasib. There, when the second round of shooting started, Sayad Mahmud and several others were shot. Among them were the elderly sherbet vendor Sheikh Shamim (65), the disabled Kurbani Sheikh (52), and Faruk (40), a shop employee from Savar, along with countless others. The deadly bullet caused a deep wound in Sayad's left thigh and exited from the other side. Crawling away from the scene, Sayad Mahmud collapsed onto the ground. Even then, random gunfire continued. In the midst of this, a 20-year-old rickshaw driver named Rony was shot in the chest and fell to the ground. As people rushed to help him, he said, "I might not survive, but a small boy ahead of me has been shot in the leg. Save him."
Other protesters attempted to rescue Sayad. He was likely still breathing at that moment, but as they tried to help him, gunfire erupted again. Once the shooting subsided, they lifted Sayad from the street and took him towards a local hospital. It was around 5:40 PM. On the way to Savar Enam Medical College, Sayad succumbed to his injuries. That day, Sayad Mahmud did not survive, nor did rickshaw driver Rony, who had requested to save Sayad. In their final moments, both Rony and the fearless young Sayad Mahmud set a shining example of bravery and humanity.
Those Without Humanity Have Stained My Bangladesh
By then, Sayad Mahmud's lifeless body lay at Enam Medical College. His family was desperately searching for him. After thorough searching in the alleys of Savar, his father, Bahadur Khan, identified his son by viewing a video shot by a journalist, which showed the upper half of Sayad’s body. His parents, along with his cousin Nahid, rushed to Enam Medical College, but they could not see their son alive again. The hospital’s emergency department became heavy with their cries. Even then, the brutality of the assailants was not over. Shortly afterward, a few police officers arrived at the hospital and pressured the family to take the body away, threatening them with trouble if they didn't comply. At the time, a nationwide curfew was in effect, and the surroundings of Savar were deserted. However, the sound of gunfire could still be heard. Despite several attempts, Bahadur Khan couldn’t get an ambulance. In desperation, he managed to arrange for an auto-rickshaw and took his son’s lifeless body toward the village. They finally reached the village late at night, around 11:30 PM.
The Brutality of the Beasts Was Still Unfinished!
Soon after, Jahid Bhuiyan, the chairman nominated by the Awami League from Dholla Union, along with several identified Awami League thugs, arrived at Bahadur Khan’s house. They pressured the family to bury Sayad’s body under the cover of darkness. They began to threaten the family with Jamaat-Shibir labels, trying to intimidate them. However, Bahadur Khan, having lost his son, had no fear of life anymore. He firmly told them, "I will not bury my son until he is given a proper bath and funeral prayers." Due to Bahadur Khan’s steadfastness and the support of some close relatives and neighbors, the thugs quickly left the house.
Funeral and Burial
The next morning, Sayad Mahmud’s funeral prayer was held. Thousands of people participated in the prayer. Before the prayer, the Imam and worshippers of Dholakhankapara Mosque were unable to hold back their tears. Thus, with a sense of sorrow and countless memories, the earthly journey of Shahid Sayad Mahmud ended. After the funeral, Sayad was laid to rest at the Dholla Bazar Central Graveyard.
Economic Condition of the Shaheed's Family
Bahadur Khan, the father of the Shaheed, is a fighter who has struggled throughout his life. He spent a significant portion of his life abroad. In 2022, after returning from Saudi Arabia, he started a poultry business in the country. However, his first attempt resulted in a massive financial setback, losing nearly 26 lakh Taka. He has not been able to recover from this loss and is now preparing to go abroad once again for work.
Although the family owns a small plot of land and a modest house in the village, they live a middle-class life. On top of that, the family faces difficulties in paying for the education of the Shaheed’s two sisters and the house rent in Dhaka. Apart from Bahadur Khan, there is no other earning member in the family.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name : Md. Sayad Mahmud Khan (Antor)
Date of Birth : August 6, 2012
Occupation & Institution : Student; Jabal-e-Noor Dakhil Madrasa, Savar, Dhaka
Father’s Name : Bahadur Khan
Father’s Occupation & Age : Expatriate (currently unemployed in the country), 48 years
Mother’s Name : Halima Akter
Mother’s Occupation & Age : Homemaker, 35 years
Current Number of
Family Members : 4
Siblings' Details : 1. Taslima Khanam (20): Student, Gonoshasthaya University
: (Elder sister of the Shaheed)
: 2. Afroza Khanam Nusrat (09): Student, Jabal-e-Noor Dakhil Madrasa, Savar, Dhaka
Incident Details : • Place of Injury: Savar New Market area
: • Time of Injury: July 20, shortly after 5:00 PM
: • Place of Death: On the way to Savar Enam Medical College in critical condition
: • Time of Death: July 21, at 5:40 PM
: • Grave Location: Dholla Bazar Central Graveyard, Singair, Manikganj
Permanent Address : Village: Dhollakhanpara, Union: Dholla, Upazila: Singair, District: Manikganj
Current Address : Area: J12/1, Bank Colony, Upazila: Savar, District: Dhaka
Proposals for Assistance
1. Proposal 1: Financial assistance to be provided for Bahadur Khan, the sole earning member of the Shaheed’s family, so he can start a business in the country.
2. Proposal 2: Regular financial support for the education of the Shaheed’s two sisters.