Md. Rayhan Ali

Md. Rayhan Ali was a young leader with exceptional qualities. He was an ideal soldier of Islamic ideology, a fearless and courageous individual who feared none but Allah. This devoted servant of Allah was born on October 20, 1997, in the serene and peaceful village of Mongolpara, surrounded by lush greenery and birdsong. This village is located in Shilmaria Union, Puthia Thana, Rajshahi District. He was the first child of a poor couple, Md. Moslem Uddin and Mosa. Ruksana Bibi. The joy of the farmer father and homemaker mother knew no bounds on the day of Rayhan Ali’s birth.
From a young age, Rayhan Ali was extremely meritorious. He consistently excelled in his studies, passing each class with distinction. He ultimately completed an MBA from Rajshahi College with outstanding results. During his student life, he was actively involved with Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir. His life was illuminated by the light of Islam, and he shaped himself as a dedicated soldier of Allah and His Messenger (SAW). In addition to his parents, Rayhan Ali’s family includes one younger brother, Rana Islam, who has recently completed his HSC and is preparing for university admission.
Rayhan Ali’s younger brother, Rana Islam, expressed his grief, saying:
"My brother loved and cared for me deeply. He always looked after me and encouraged me to focus on my studies. Today, my brother has left this world. I demand justice for my brother’s murder."
Family and Financial Condition
Rayhan Ali’s father is a poor farmer with no land of his own. He cultivates other people's land on a sharecropping basis. The income from this labor is barely enough to meet the family's basic needs. The family constantly faces financial struggles, encountering new challenges every day just to sustain themselves. The meager earnings from farming make it extremely difficult to cover education, medical expenses, and daily necessities.
The Incident of Martyrdom
It was the beginning of July. The anti-discrimination student movement had just started in Rajshahi. Some senior brothers came forward to support the students to strengthen the movement. Shaheed Rayhan Ali was one of them. Rayhan Ali, who was skilled in leadership, from the very beginning provided important advice and overall cooperation to the coordinators in the anti-discrimination student movement. He himself used to be at the forefront of the procession.
Gradually the movement became stronger and Rayhan Ali continued to play a role by staying by the side of the agitators all the time. The day was Monday, August 5. Shortly before the fall of the autocrat.
Thousands of students gathered at Talaimari intersection of the city adjacent to Ruet Gate and set off towards Saheb Bazar. But when the students' procession reached a place called Alupatti, the cadre force of Rajshahi Awami League leader Dablu Sarkar and the then City Corporation Mayor Khairuzzaman Liton started firing at the students.
The time was 1:30 pm. A bullet fired by Awami terrorists hit Rayhan Ali right in the head. He immediately fell to the ground. The agitating students immediately rescued him and took him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Seeing his critical condition, the doctors advised him to be taken to Dhaka. According to the advice, even after leaving for Dhaka, it was not possible to move forward due to the terrible situation of the movement. Without any other option, the bullet-ridden Rayhan Ali was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital again.
Rayhan Ali was immediately taken to the operation theater and the operation was completed at 07:30 pm. In the words of the doctors, the operation was successful. The next day, on August 6, Rayhan Ali was moving his hands and feet, which gave everyone hope. Everyone's favorite Rayhan may come back! But after 4:30 pm, his bleeding started and the GCS score started to decrease. Again at 10 o'clock at night, his condition improved slightly. On the morning of August 7, the GCS score dropped to 6. At 10 o'clock at night, it again improved to GCS score 8. The next day, on the morning of August 8, it was decided to take him to Dhaka by air ambulance. But from that morning, Rayhan Ali's condition started to deteriorate. The GCS score dropped to 1. As the afternoon passed, the condition worsened. As it went on like this, at half past six in the evening, Rayhan Ali said goodbye to everyone crying. The life lamp of a soldier of the great Allah who wanted to establish an Islamic system of governance in the country was extinguished. On August 9, despite the heavy rain at Rajshahi College, his funeral was held in the presence of thousands of people.
After that, the body of Shaheed Rayhan Ali was taken to his village home, Mangalpara village in Puthia. There he was laid to rest forever, the beloved Shaheed Rayhan Ali of all.
The Bereaved Family of the Martyr Rayhan
A deep shadow of grief descended on Rayhan's family due to the news of his martyrdom. The family cannot bear the death of a selfless, unpretentious, young son. The 27-year-old Shaheed Rayhan Ali was an amiable man. He was humble, polite, well-mannered and meritorious since childhood. Rayhan's younger brother, intermediate graduate Rana Islam, said, "Brother loved me very much, took care of me. Brother always inquired about my studies. Today my brother has left this world. I want justice for the killing of my brother."
"My daughter doesn't exist. However, the absence of a daughter was compensated for by my oldest son. When Rayhan used to get home, he would clean my clothes. His fingernails were cut. How could my golden boy have been shot? Moslem Uddin, the father of Shaheed Raihan Ali, spoke in a sorrowful tone. All he owns in the house is thirteen decimals of land. He works the land of others. He is a 55-year-old poor farmer. She has such a dream for her two sons. The family will be financially secure once the eldest son finishes his education, and he won't have to work as hard! However, Moslem Uddin, a farmer, had all of his dreams ripped away by a terrorist bullet.
Ruksana Bibi, the mother of Shaheed Rayhan Ali, who is saddened and devastated by the loss of her son, said, "On the day my Rayhan called and said, 'Mom, I will come home.' That morning, I would cook and sit waiting for when my Rayhan would come home and call me mother. My son Rayhan was my peace. Our hearts would be cooled when he came home. He used to stay in the city for studies, so my son used to come home after many days. My Rayhan will never call me mother again when he comes home. Even if I cook and sit with food for him, I will never get him again."
In this way, the days of Shaheed Rayhan Ali's parents pass with the grief of losing their son in their hearts. The helpless elderly parents still go to Rayhan's room and cry incessantly after not finding their son. The pet cat of Shaheed Rayhan Ali also cries. It wanders from this room to that room searching for Rayhan. Shaheed Rayhan Ali is still alive in our hearts, but in the cruelty of reality, we will never get him back.
Others' statements about Shaheed Rayhan
Hasibur Rahman, the roommate of Shaheed Rayhan Ali, said, "Rayhan Ali Bhai was a very good man. We have been together for a long time as roommates. His memories are constantly remembered by me. He was a God-fearing man. He used to try to offer the five daily prayers in congregation at the mosque. On Fridays, he would go to the mosque very quickly. May Allah accept the brother as a martyr."
Another Rayhan
Shaheed Rayhan Ali was a popular leader of Islami Chhatrashibir. His leadership qualities were very strong. So, he was able to attract everyone's attention easily. He took his branch of the Chhatrashibir to a unique height. He used to be in charge of leading various processions, meetings and programs of the Shibir. All the arrangements were done under his leadership.
He had a keen eye so that no one in the Chhatrashibir could ever get involved in any injustice, misdeeds or obscenity. He risked his life to keep the Shibir always free from impurity. He made tireless efforts to build every member of the Chhatrashibir in the correct ideals of Islam. He himself never indulged in any wrongdoing or misdeeds and did not allow his comrades to get involved.
He wanted to soak himself, his friends, and the members of his organization in the love of Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon him). He wanted to bring his organization Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir to the highest level of principles and ideals. For this he had tireless efforts. That is why he always remained steadfast in the ideal path of Islam. He never compromised with injustice.
He was associated with this organization and reached such a unique height that the presence of thousands of people at his funeral on August 9, defying the heavy rain, in the premises of Rajshahi College is proof of that. We all hope and pray that this soldier of the great ideals of Islam will be made a guest of Jannatul Firdaus by Allah in the hereafter.