Tahmid Bhuiyan

In Chinishpur, Sadar Thana, Narsingdi district, on May 8, 2009, a child was born, illuminating the laps of his parents. Who knew that this child, even before reaching his youth, would become a shining star! The child was named Tahmid Bhuiyan by his family. Tahmid Bhuiyan possessed extraordinary talent and sharp intellect. Among the three children in the family, Tahmid was the eldest son and the only male child. Through Tahmid's birth, Mosa. Taiyeba Begum became a mother for the first time, and Md. Rafiqul Islam became a father. On that day, through Tahmid's birth, Rafiqul and Taiyeba couple found their identity as parents. Tahmid was known to his family, relatives, neighbors, and friends as a devout, honest, truthful, humble, hardworking, and talented boy.
From a young age, Tahmid used to pray five times a day. Shaheed Tahmid was a brilliant student of class nine at N.K.M. School and Homes. He enjoyed writing English poetry. Tahmid also loved playing cricket. His dream was to become a good cricketer when he grew up. Tahmid had all the cricket equipment. The cricket jersey, the head hat, the bat, the ball, everything is lying in the house. Only Tahmid is not there. These playing equipment also seem to be looking for Tahmid again and again. Little did his parents know that their dream-fulfilling Tahmid would leave them alone and go on an eternal journey.
While raising their only son, Tahmid, his parents probably harbored the dream that one day their son would grow up and do something very good, brightening the face of the family and the country. The day when Tahmid's father would no longer have to roam from village to village practicing rural medicine, perhaps his mother's sorrows would be alleviated. In this way, this autocratic fascist government has emptied the hearts of thousands of mothers. There is no such heinous act that this autocratic government has not committed.
Family's Economic Condition
A close-knit family of four, including his father, mother, and two younger sisters. The only breadwinner of this lower-middle-class family is Tahmid's father, Md. Rafiqul Islam. He is a rural medical practitioner by profession. Tahmid was the only son in the family. Tahmid has two younger sisters, aged 13 and one and a half years old. His family lives in their own house. They do not have any land suitable for rice production. A small house on only four decimals of land.
Background of the Incident
The time was July 18, 2024. An unusual situation was going on in the country. On the one hand, the united movement of the students, and on the other hand, the dictator and his sycophantic administration (police, BGB, Army). It was as if a new liberation war was going on. Students have announced a complete shutdown across the country. There was a tense atmosphere throughout the country. The students, who were in an uproar to demand their rights, could not be suppressed in any way. One after another disappearances, murders, and arrests were taking place. When it became difficult to suppress the united students demanding their rights, the fascist government, in a completely planned manner, shut down the internet system across the country. So that the students could not communicate and unite to take to the streets.
July 18 was such a tainted day in the history of Bengalis when there was a tense atmosphere all over the country. There was fear among everyone. Meanwhile, two big rumors spread, some said that the fascist Sheikh Hasina had fled the country, and others said that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia had passed away. On the other hand, there was no way for the general public across the country to know what form the students' movement had taken. Parents were sending their children to the streets and counting the time, whether their children would return home alive or as corpses. In such a tense situation, everyone's beloved little Tahmid took a bath at noon, wore a Punjabi pajama, and went to the mosque to offer Zohr prayers. After finishing the prayers at the mosque, he returned home. Then, as usual, he finished lunch with everyone in the family.
Tahmid's mind was on the field of movement. That is why he finished his meal a little faster than usual. After finishing the meal, Tahmid left the house without telling anyone in the family. He went to the jail gate to join the student movement. On the way to the jail gate, he fell under the wrath of the police, who were lackeys of the fascist government. The police fired indiscriminately at Tahmid from the top of the Otobi Furniture building. Not just one or two, countless bullets were fired at a young boy. Due to the high intensity of the bullets, Tahmid could no longer stand. He fell on the road in an instant. Immediately fell into the lap of death. The time was half past four in the afternoon. How much burden of bullets could such a small boy carry! Tahmid's friends and comrades had to face the wrath of the police three times in a row while carrying his body.
1st time: When the students and the public tried to rescue Tahmid and take him to the hospital, they faced obstacles from the fascist police. After overcoming the obstacles, when they somehow reached the hospital with Tahmid, the hospital authorities declared Tahmid dead.
2nd time: While the students and the public were at the hospital with Tahmid's body, they fell victim to the wrath of the police. Many of Tahmid's classmates were injured while they were in the hospital. How can the police of a country be so cruel! They shot and injured the relatives or classmates who came to take the body.
3rd time: Even after many of Tahmid's classmates were injured by gunshots, they somehow reached the school grounds with Tahmid's body. There too, the diabolical police indiscriminately fired at the students, the public, and Tahmid's classmates. Many of Tahmid's classmates were injured. The police behavior of the fascist government's associates is very rare in the world. The way the police and other tools of the previous fascist government acted, is rare and unprecedented in the recent history. Being a victim of such brutality, Tahmid left for the land of no return leaving his family, neighbors, classmates, and relatives bereaved. Everyone's beloved Tahmid was buried in the Chinishpur public graveyard.
Reminiscences of the Martyr's Close Relatives
Mother: Losing her only son, the mother is almost unconscious. It is as if she has lost her power of speech. Sometimes she acts like a mad woman for her only son. Only the one who has lost understands the pain of separation.
The mother repeatedly says, "It was in Tahmid's voice that I first heard the call 'Ma'." That day was a day of joy. It turned into sorrow so quickly. Tahmid was an extremely talented student in the science department. My son loved playing cricket very much. His father bought him all the cricket equipment.
Tahmid's school uniform, his cricket bat, cricket hat, and stumps are repeatedly held and wept over. The mother's tears seem to have dried up from crying, but the heart's cry has not subsided. We do not know what to stop the mother's cry with. Tahmid's mother says, "I search for Tahmid in every corner of the house, as if I can hear him calling 'Ma'."
Father: I miss my son very much. From his childhood, my son used to offer five times prayers with me, and even Fajr prayers in congregation. On the day my son was completely unjustly and brutally murdered, even on that day, Tahmid offered Fajr prayers with me in congregation. How can I forget my first child? When I stand for prayer, I feel like Tahmid has come and stood beside me. Wherever I go, I repeatedly hear Tahmid calling "Baba, Baba." I was not just Tahmid's father, but also a very good friend. Like a friend, my son used to share everything with me. Going to pray together, going to the market, walking to school, and countless other memories that cannot be finished by saying. There is only one wish that the real perpetrators of the injustice should be properly tried. So that no other father has to carry something as heavy as carrying his son's body. And no mother's lap should be emptied like this.
Younger Sister: Brother was my study companion, storytelling companion, and mischief companion. We were not like elder or younger siblings; we were like friends of the same age. On the night before the day my brother was martyred by the killers, we studied together until very late. There is no one to listen to the stories of my sadness. When I learned to speak, how eager my brother was to hear the call "Bhaiya" from my mouth. My brother will no longer be eagerly waiting to hear my call "Bhaiya." In my short life, I have not seen a second person like my brother who was so prayerful, honest, talented, hardworking, humble, and friendly. I cannot even imagine how the lackeys of the fascist government finished off my friendly guardian like this. Even after two months of being martyred, I cannot forget my brother's memories in any way. My mind does not sit at the study table without my brother. I cannot bring back my concentration to studies in any way. I really want to shout and say, "Take everything from me, but give me back my friend brother!" Although that is never possible, it is just the cry of an innocent mind.
One-and-a-half-year-old younger sister: Being so young, she cannot quite understand that she has lost her brother/where her brother has gone. She constantly asks her mother and father where her brother is. She searches for her brother everywhere in the nooks and crannies of the house.
Uncle: Tahmid was not just my nephew; he was like my own child. My nephew was a possessor of extraordinary talent. The killers did not give my beloved nephew the opportunity to develop his talents.
Aunt: Tahmid was the piece of my heart, my nephew. How lovingly he used to call me "Phupu (father’s sister)." We cannot bear the pain of losing our beloved son.
Teacher: He was an exceptionally talented and gifted student in the science department of our institution's ninth grade. How charming the boy was! His respect for teachers and his polite words were heartwarming. Teachers and students, all miss Tahmid very much, and at the same time, everyone in our institution is proud of Tahmid's self-sacrifice.
Friends' reminiscences: We have not lost a friend; we have lost our own brother. If we were indecisive about anything, Tahmid would quickly come up with an excellent suggestion/idea. From the mosque to the classroom, from the classroom to the playground, we miss Tahmid everywhere. At the same time, we are all proud that we had such a self-sacrificing friend.