Md. Sohel

"I look up at the sky again,
watching the silent gathering of stars.
It feels as though our broken,
defeated lives will rise up, and in the end,
we will call ourselves victorious,
erasing the marks of the horizon far away."
"Sohel didn't get to go out with his wife
on his son's birthday"
Suruj Mia and Hosne Ara Begum started their family life in Durgapur village of Trishal police station in Mymensingh district. There, the fearless, heroic, and freedom-seeking child Md. Sohel was born. According to the identity card, this great man was born on December 15, 1979. He was the eldest among his siblings. He made all-out sacrifices to establish his younger brother Jewel. He arranged the marriage of his two sisters, Amena and Kulsum. From the structure of responsibility, he was a man of utmost integrity and honest qualities. He was unique among all in morality! However, Shaheed Sohel grew up in financial hardship from his childhood. For this reason, despite being skilled in studies, he had to stop at the secondary level.
After taking the responsibility of the family on his own shoulders, he acquired the skill of repairing broken mobile phones as a profession. The new life of an enterprising young man began. He quickly gained fame for his honesty and work efficiency. The martyr's father, Suruj Mia, was a day laborer by profession. Hoping for a new life, he left Mymensingh with his family and came to the Kadamtali area of the capital. Then began Sohel's tireless life. He rented shop number 41 on the 4th floor of RS Shopping Mall Center in Shani Akhra. He started electric device and mobile servicing.
The martyr's life was very simple. He could easily make friends with anyone. Due to being very sincere and sociable, Sohel quickly developed good relations with his customers. Due to the reputation of his work, the shop was always crowded. Thinking about the future of his younger brother, he personally trained him to be a mobile technician. While fulfilling all the responsibilities of the family, Md. Sohel started his marital life late. In 2018, he was married to Ayesha Akhter Kuheli. After some time, their house was illuminated by the birth of their only son, Hazrat Bilal Anas. With the arrival of the child, all kinds of happiness blossomed. A festive atmosphere prevails throughout the family. It's like a grand celebration of joy!
"Have you seen a demon? No? You probably have, just didn’t notice.
Suddenly, a movement in the country.
On July 1st, 2024, the journey of the anti-discrimination student movement began, demanding the reform of the quota system for government jobs. Within a month, it resulted the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, which had been in power for over 15 years. Under the leadership of the then Prime Minister, the murderer Hasina, the law enforcement agencies carried out extensive violence. Amidst countless deaths of students and civilians, and a powerful mass movement, the autocratic Hasina resigned on Monday, August 5, 2024, and fled the country.
Initially, the students' protest started with demands to reform the quota system in government jobs, but when the government attempted to suppress them with violence, people from all walks of life joined the movement. The students stated, "Quota discrimination is harmful to merit-based recruitment. The quota must be permanently abolished." To achieve their demands, the anti-discrimination student movement declared street protests.
In response, on July 14, 2024, at a press conference, the autocratic Prime Minister Hasina remarked, "Why so much anger against freedom fighters? If the grandsons and granddaughters of freedom fighters won’t get it, should the grandsons and granddaughters of the collaborators (rajakars) get it?" Following this negative comment, students from various universities grew angry and perceived her statement as directed at them. In the mid night, students took to the streets with slogans: "Who are you? Who am I? Rajakar, Rajakar! Who said, who said? Tyrant, tyrant!" and "When we went to claim our rights, we were branded as Rajakars."
After a complete blockade and shutdown, a final demand was made for Hasina’s resignation as under her directives, violence spread across the country. A metro rail station in Dhaka was set on fire, and the buildings of the public transportation authorities were destroyed. Violent clashes continued between the police and students.
"Have you seen a demon? No? You probably have, just didn’t notice.
Have you seen how a group of human-like demons beat and shoot a living person, celebrating savagely? Have you witnessed such a scene? No? Because of a slight difference in opinion, if someone holds a different view, the accused would be beaten and killed by the 'demons' of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliate organizations, as if it were their right.
Similarly, on July 20th, Saturday, members of the monstrous law enforcement agencies chased down protesting students with tear gas, sound grenades, birdshot, and gunfire from helicopters. They attempted to thwart the movement through kidnapping, killing, torture, and filing cases. The capital, Dhaka, was in turmoil on that day.
"How cruel are they, how can humans kill other humans?"
Joining the Movement
Shaheed Mohammad Sohel quickly closed his shop upon hearing the news of the movement. His brother Jewel, scared after seeing the bloodied fields, urged him to go home. But Sohel, despite his wife Ayesha Akter’s pleas to stay, went up to the roof of his house with his family to watch the protests. After witnessing piles of corpses, he said to his wife, "How cruel are they, how can humans kill other humans?"
The Moment of Martyrdom
On July 20, 2024, at around 5:30 PM, hearing about a clash in front of his house, Sohel and the house owner rushed downstairs. They went near a grocery store to assess the situation when suddenly, a bullet fired by the police hit Sohel’s chest. He fell unconscious immediately. The house owner called Sohel’s wife and informed her, "Your husband has been shot in the chest." His wife rushed to the scene with the help of local neighbors to rescue him.
They quickly took him to Kazla Unabil Hospital, where doctors advised transferring him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. At 7:30 PM, as they were on their way to the hospital, Sohel succumbed to his injuries from excessive blood loss. His wife, Ayesha Akter Kuheli, holding her husband to her chest, rushed to the hospital. Upon arrival, the doctor confirmed, "Your husband is no longer with us, he has passed away." Ayesha was left speechless, completely ruined by grief.
Sohel’s family members brought the unconscious daughter-in-law and Sohel’s son back home. His mother, Hosne Ara Begum, mourned loudly and repeatedly almost fainted. His son, Anas, held his father’s neck and tried to wipe away the blood with his little hands, not understanding that his father had left this world forever.
Sohel’s body was taken to the family home in the village, where he was bathed, and hundreds of people attended his funeral prayer. His father, Suruj Mia, personally buried his son in the family graveyard in Trishal, Mymensingh, reciting, "Bismillahi wa Ala Millati Rasoolillahi" (In the name of Allah and according to the path of the Messenger of Allah).
What a heartbreaking feeling! It’s like a life wrapped in sorrow. A single bullet from the murderer erased all dreams. In a moment, Sohel’s loved ones became widows, orphans, and bereft of a son.
The Agony of Loss
Sohel’s father, Suruj Mia, recalls, "An hour and a half before Sohel was shot, he had dropped off a sack of rice, mangoes, and jackfruit at home." Before leaving, Sohel had warned his father, "Father, there is a lot of trouble outside, please stay inside. He warned me, and now my son is gone. I demand justice for my son’s murder."
Sohel’s father-in-law, Mohammad Kashem, says, "Sohel and I had a very close and friendly relationship. We understood each other very well. Sohel did so much for my family. He wasn’t just my son-in-law, he was my son." Sohel’s brother Jewel shares, "After hearing about Sohel’s death, many customers came to our house and wept."
The Tragic Event
Sohel’s son, Hazrat Billal Anas, was born on July 29th. Sohel had told his wife, "We will go out together to celebrate our son’s birthday." He lovingly called his only child 'Tiger' due to his energetic nature. Sohel had planned to celebrate this special day with his son.
Returning to Humility
Sohel’s father, Suruj Howlader (62), suffers from eye problems, and his mother, Hosne Ara Begum (55), has cataracts and cannot move without assistance. Due to financial difficulties, Sohel’s wife, Ayesha Akter Kuheli (27), is currently living with her parents. Sohel had accumulated a debt of 1.3 million Taka, which Ayesha sold her shop to try and pay off, but could not fully settle. After seeing the family’s financial crisis, the creditors forgave the debt.
Martyr's Personal Information at a Glance
Name : Martyr Md. Sohel
Occupation : Mobile Technician and Business
Date of Birth and Age : December 15, 1979, 45 years
Date of Martyrdom : July 20, 2024, Saturday, approximately 7:30 pm
Place of Martyrdom : Near Donia Post Office, Jatrabari
Buried : Family Graveyard
Permanent Address : Durgapur, Trishal, Mymensingh
Father : Md. Suruj Mia (62)
Mother : Mst. Hosne Ara Begum
Condition of House and Property : Has a small amount of residential land
Details of Siblings and Children:
Md. Hazrat Bilal Anas, Relationship: Son, Age: 04 years
Kulsum, Relationship: Sister, Age: 25, (Married)
Jewel, Relationship: Younger Brother, Age: 22, Occupation: Pickup Driver
Amena, Relationship: Sister, Age: 20, (Married)
Wife: Ayesha Akhter Kuheli, Occupation: Housewife, Age: 27, Educational Qualification: HSC (Passed)
Proposals:
Assistance can be provided in meeting the upbringing expenses of the martyr's only son and elderly parents.
A grocery shop can be set up for the martyr's father.
It would be helpful if the martyr's wife could be provided with a business or job opportunity.