Md. Riaz Hossain

Birth and Introduction
Martyr Riaz was born in 2003. Coming from a poor family, he faced challenges from the very beginning of his life. His father, an elderly and infirm man, constantly struggled to make a living, and the hardship of this struggle also impacted Riaz's life.
His childhood was carefree, filled with the joy of roaming the green fields of rural Bengal. Those moments of running barefoot on the dew-kissed grass were like symbols of his freedom. He would wander the fields, playing on the village paths. Above him was the blue sky, and in his heart were a thousand colorful dreams. His mischievousness and creativity blended together, making his childhood a source of pure joy. However, he was not just carefree; he was also extremely talented. He constantly proved his excellence in his studies. Despite the sting of poverty, infinite potential lay hidden within his mind. He had many dreams, and before his eyes floated images of a new day, where he would see himself established. Weaving thousands of dreams, he moved forward on the path of life, firmly determined to break the shackles of his and his family's poverty. Riaz's life was the story of an ordinary boy's extraordinary struggle in rural Bengal, who wanted to overcome all the obstacles of life with the light of his talent, intellect, and dreams.
How He Became a Martyr
On July 19, 2024, a struggling chapter was written on Bosila Bridge, where students and the general public stood with the torch of rebellion against injustice. The fire of protest was burning fiercely across the country at that time. In that flame was Martyr Riaz, a spirited teenager who, by birth, carried the fire of protest against injustice. His position against Hasina's various misdeeds and autocracy was unwavering and fearless. On that day, the procession of protesting students and people was moving towards Bosila Bridge, and seeing their strength of resistance, fear and anger arose in the police's mind. Suddenly, the clash began. Police and BGB members, armed, began attacking in the name of law and order. Alongside them were a group of aggressive activists from the Awami League and its affiliated organizations, wearing helmets, carrying sticks, machetes, and firearms, advancing towards the protesters as if to silence their voices forever. Riaz was at the forefront of this movement. Fearless and courageous, he did not stop in front of any obstacles. He was in the front row of the procession, his eyes filled with the promise of freedom, his hands carrying the oath to fight against injustice. Suddenly, the sky was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Riaz fell to the ground, shot in the head. His blood soaked the bridge, which became a witness to his heroism. Although Riaz's lifeless body lay on the ground, his bravery became immortal at that moment.
Two days later, his lifeless body was found in the hospital morgue. It was as if the sky had fallen on the family. The boy who was their dream, the light of their future, that light was extinguished by a murderer's cruel bullet. Tears were in the mother's eyes, and a silent wail was in the father's voice. All their hopes and dreams were shattered in an instant. Shaheed Riaz, who is still remembered today for his bravery and strong stance, raised the flag of struggle against autocracy with his own life. The soil of Bangladesh is soaked with his blood, and that very soil has made him an immortal martyr.
Statement from a Close Relative about the Martyr
Shaheed Riaz was dear to all of us, a lively boy. A smile was always on his face, as if sorrow and hardship could not touch him. If anyone asked him a question, he would answer in his friendly manner, in a sweet voice. Because of this simplicity and good behavior, he was very close to everyone. Looking at him, one could understand that the playfulness of his childhood was mixed in his blood. In the field, Riaz could always be seen running around, playing with his friends. But along with sports, he also had an equal sense of responsibility. No matter how engrossed he was in playing, he would dutifully do his share of work in the field at the right time. He had a deep devotion to religion. He regularly offered the five daily prayers. While playing in the field, when it was time for prayer, Riaz would not delay for a moment. When it was time for prayer, he would leave all his work and pray to God with devotion. We still remember Riaz as that ever-smiling, friendly, spirited teenager, whose every day of life was spent in a harmonious balance of work in the fields and play.
Economic Condition of the Martyr's Family
Riaz's story is a portrait of heartbreaking poverty. From a young age, Riaz had seen how his father sharecropped on other people's land, and even after a day's tiring work, it was not enough to put food on the table. There were four siblings in the family, and building their future was far from possible; every day was a struggle to make ends meet. The signs of hardship on his mother's face grew deeper day by day. Sometimes, if there was no rice in the house, everyone had to go hungry. Yet, even in this misery, Riaz's parents dreamed of educating their children. They believed that through education, Riaz and his siblings would one day break free from this web of poverty and walk towards the light. But in the harsh struggle of reality, those dreams were slowly fading away. In Riaz's life, childhood did not mean any fairy tales, nor did it have any leisure for playing. His days were spent working in other people's fields. And his father, in every grain of rice, wove the dream that someday perhaps these days of hardship would end. But the days only tightened the grip of hardship even more strongly around them.

Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name: Md. Riaz Hossain
Date of Birth: 09/03/2003
Profession: Student and Shop Assistant
Permanent & Current Address: Village: Choto Bhawal, Union: Tara Nagar, Thana: Keraniganj, District: Dhaka
Father's Name: Ashab Uddin
Age: 70, Agriculture
Mother's Name: Shefali Begum, 54, Housewife
Monthly Income: 5000/-
Source of Income: Shop Assistant
Family Members: 4
Jewel, Age- 27, Unemployed
Rana, Age- 22, Shop Assistant
Place of Incident: Bosila Bridge, Dhaka
Assailants: Killer Police
Time of Injury: Date- July 19, 2024
Time of Death: Date- July 19, 2024, Sebadash Hospital
Graveyard: Family Graveyard
Proposals
1. Provide employment for the unemployed elder brother.
2. Arrange for a permanent allowance.
3. Provide one-time financial grant.