Mohammad Sujan Khan

Mohammad Sujan Khan was born on January 5, 1994, in Khan Bari, Hashimpur village, under the Ekhlaspur Union of Matlab Uttar Thana in Chandpur District. His father's name is Manzil Khan, and his mother's name is Nur Jahan Begum. Sujan was the first child of the family, so there was no shortage of joy in the family with his birth. After his birth, his parents were blessed with another son and a daughter, making their family a happy one with five members. From a young age, Sujan was dearly loved by his parents and relatives. After learning the basics from his mother, he was enrolled in a madrasa in Hashimpur. He continued his education at this madrasa. However, Sujan had always been more interested in business, so after completing his education till the fifth grade, he moved to the capital, Dhaka, with his cousin. His professional life began at a clothing store in Islampur, Dhaka.
Family’s Arrival in Dhaka, and Sujan Reunited with Family
After arriving in Dhaka, Sujan Khan worked with his cousin in Islampur for some time. Later, his father returned from abroad. Unable to find work in the village, he brought the rest of the family to Dhaka. Upon arriving in Dhaka, Sujan’s father started a business with his uncles. In the Siddhirganj area of Narayanganj, his father transported goods from Narayanganj to various places via trawler. Subsequently, Sujan also moved to Narayanganj's Jalakuri area, where he lived with his family. Finally, he worked as a laborer at a local jute mill.
The Outbreak of the Movement and Sujan Khan’s Protest
The quota reform movement began anew after the Bangladesh Supreme Court’s High Court Division declared the circular relating to Quota Reform issued by the Government of Bangladesh on October 4, 2018, as illegal, on June 5, 2024. The movement gained momentum in July, with students starting protests, such as the "Bangla Blockade," aimed at reforming the discriminatory quota system. As the movement escalated, police forces responded with excessive force, resulting in clashes. On July 16, students Abu Said from Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, Faisal Mahmud from Chittagong, and Wasim Akram, along with others, were Martyred, intensifying the movement.
The protests turned violent across the country, and various law enforcement agencies, along with student organizations like Chhatra League and Jubo League, increased attacks on civilians, resulting in numerous casualties. In response to the growing protest, Prime Minister Hasina imposed a nationwide curfew and cut off internet connections. The movement spread to Narayanganj as well, and on July 18, massive protests erupted in the Jalakuri area of Siddhirganj. Sujan Khan’s younger brother, Mahbub, also participated in the protest. Mahbub recalls, "When I saw my brother at the protest, I was surprised because he was supposed to be at the factory."
After the protest, Mahbub learned that his brother's factory workers had joined the movement. Mahbub said, "My elder brother was always a man of protest. He couldn’t tolerate injustice. Since the beginning of the Awami authoritarian regime, he had been opposing it and speaking out. Even when we were afraid to speak against the government’s misdeeds, he fearlessly exposed their wrongdoings to the public."
The First Shaheed of Jalakuri,
Sujan Khan was an ardent supporter of the student movement demanding reform of the discriminatory quota system from the very beginning. When the movement intensified in Jalakuri on July 18, he joined the protest during his work hours. The events started on July 19 when the students decided to continue the protest. That Friday, Sujan Khan told his mother he was going to the factory. Due to the curfew, his mother objected, but Sujan reassured her, saying, "It’s the end of the month; if I miss a day, there will be trouble with the salary later."
As Sujan prepared to leave, his mother made jackfruit and puffed rice for him. She tearfully said, "I broke the jackfruit for him, we ate together. Who knew that would be the last time I saw him?"
As the Friday prayers concluded, the crowd grew, and law enforcement agencies began preparing with weapons. After the prayers, the protesters gathered at the Jalakuri bus stand. From the beginning, the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) chased the protesters. The police and BGB fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the peaceful protesters, escalating tensions. Around 3 PM, Sujan Khan left the factory to return home and joined the protesters on his way. By then, the situation had worsened, and along with police and BGB forces, Awami League-backed terrorists attacked the protesters. In response, the protesters set fire to the house of Narayanganj’s infamous MP, Shamim Osman. The police and BGB forces became more aggressive and began firing indiscriminately at the unarmed public.
At exactly 5 PM, a bullet fired by the assailants struck Sujan Khan in the waist, causing him to collapse. Protesters rushed him to a nearby clinic, where the doctor declared him dead. Those who were with him in the protest were devastated. Sujan Khan was added to the list of Shaheeds, forever etched in history. He became the first Shaheed of the July Revolution in the Jalakuri area of Siddhirganj.
In Protest, Sujan and His Fellow Shaheeds Stand at the Forefront. They carve new freedom with their own blood, Breaking chains with a blow to the ribs, removing the centuries-old weight of oppression. Shaheed Sujan and others were always a thorn in the eyes of the tyrants.
After the Martyrdom of Sujan Khan, one of his co-workers from the factory, Raju, went to inform his family that Sujan had been shot and was in critical condition, admitted to a clinic. Upon receiving the news, his parents and younger brother rushed to the clinic. However, when they arrived, they learned that Sujan had already embraced Martyrdom. His family’s cries of grief filled the air. Amidst the sorrow, the clinic authorities began to pressure the family to take Sujan’s body. The clinic authorities explained, "You are aware of the situation in the country. Please take the body soon, as the police may arrive shortly and trouble both you and us."
Following the clinic's instructions, Sujan Khan's body was taken to his home near the Jalakuri bus stand without a death certificate. Fearing harassment from law enforcement and Awami League-backed terrorists, the family quickly performed his final bath that very night. Despite the curfew, a large crowd gathered. After the funeral prayers at Rabbani Nagar Madrasa, Sujan was buried at the nearby Eidgah Graveyard in Jalakuri.
Current Condition of the Shaheed's Family
After Sujan Khan’s father returned from abroad, he started a business transporting goods via trawler in the Siddhirganj area of Narayanganj. Meanwhile, Sujan worked as a laborer in a local jute mill. The father’s income supported the family’s daily expenses, while Sujan’s earnings went toward the education of his siblings. The family was managing a middle-class lifestyle. However, with the death of their eldest son, Sujan, his father, Manjil Khan, is now struggling to support the family. Sujan's younger brother, Mohammad Mahbub Khan, shared, "Besides the weekly groceries and other expenses, my elder brother would always send money for my education. Now, with his absence, it has become difficult to manage my education costs, and the family is facing financial strain."
Overview of Shaheed Mohammad Sujan Khan's Information
Name : Mohammad Sujan Khan
Date of Birth : January 5, 1994
Profession : Jute mill worker
Father's Name : Manzil Khan, Profession: Goods transport via trawler, Age: 55 years
Mother's Name : Nur Jahan Begum, Profession: Homemaker, Age: 50 years
Family's Monthly Income : 10,000 Taka
Current Family Members : 4
Names, Professions, and Institutions of Other Family Members
• Shaheed's Younger Brother : Mohammad Mahbub Khan, First Year Degree Student at Tularam College
• Shaheed's Younger Sister : Mosha: Khadija Akhter, Homemaker
Perpetrators : Police of Siddhirganj Thana and local BGB members
Date and Time of Death : July 19, 2024, approximately 5:00 PM, Jalakuri Bus Stand,
: Siddhirganj, Narayanganj
Location of Shaheed's Grave : Near Jalakuri Eidgah Graveyard, Ward No. 9, Jalakuri,
: Siddhirganj, Narayanganj City Corporation
Current Address : Village: Jalakuri, Ward No. 09, Narayanganj City Corporation,
: Upazila: Siddhirganj, District: Narayanganj
Permanent Address : Village: Khan Bari Hashimpur, Union: Ikhlaspur,
: Upazila: Matlob North, District: Chandpur
Suggestions for Assistance
1. Provide a one-time financial contribution to the Shaheed's impoverished father to help expand his business.
2. Arrange a scholarship for the Shaheed's younger brother, who is currently in college.