Md. Abdul Latif

Shaheed Md. Abdul Latif was born in Ward No. 9 of Goyla village, not far from Sirajganj. His father died before he was born. His mother also passed away from the world when he was three months old. Abdul Latif became an orphan at the tender age of three months. His only relative was an aunt. Abdul Latif grew up in his aunt's house. But in a cruel twist of fate, the aunt also passed away from the world in a very short time. After that, four of his cousins took responsibility for him. They started a life of struggle. He grew up with his cousins. Later, he started working as a day laborer as a profession. He also worked in tea shops at various times. They did not have any ancestral land to live on. They used to live in a rented house. Despite the poor family, they were happy with the four sisters. In his personal life, Martyr Abdul Latif was a very simple and straightforward person. He would happily do any work that anyone gave him.
How He Became a Martyr
In July 2024, the Quota Reform Movement spread from Dhaka University to the whole country. The intensity of the movement started to increase. The government, with the malicious intention of politicization in government jobs, again made arrangements to introduce 56% quota in government jobs.
In protest of this, the students and the public burst into protest across the country. The police force of the autocratic government, including the terrorists of Chhatra League, came down to suppress this peaceful movement. On July 15, Chhatra League terrorists attacked the general students at Dhaka University. Even the girls were not spared from the hands of Chhatra League. They were brutally tortured. TSC was bloodied. The streets were stained with the blood of the students.
On July 16, the movement intensified in protest of these barbaric attacks. On this day, when Abu Saeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, was being martyred by police bullets, the movement spread across the country. Bangladeshi expatriates working in various countries also held rallies and human chains. It took the form of a mass movement.
In line with this, mass movements started in different places of Sirajganj city from the morning of August 4. When the procession, which started at 11 am, reached near the Elliot Bridge from Sirajganj city, Awami terrorists opened fire on the procession. Two consecutive bullets fired from the shotgun of Jubo League leader Musa hit the left rib and the left side of the neck of Shaheed Abdul Latif. This life-long soldier was being martyred on the spot.
The shaheed lifeless body lay on the bridge. Hasinur Rashid, a neighbor of Abdul Latif, saw Abdul Latif lying down when he looked back at someone's call while descending the east side of the bridge. Some of the protesters were taking him to North Bengal Medical College Hospital on a rickshaw - then the shaheed two hands were spread on both sides. Fresh blood was dripping drop by drop. As if he was witnessing the brutal massacre of '24. When he reached the hospital, the doctor declared him dead.
One of the shaheed sisters said, "After the death of our parents, we raised him in our arms. We have no children. He was our only support, the hope of survival. That brother of ours has given his life for the country today. We will never get him back. We will not be able to call anyone brother. When I go to sleep, I feel like my brother is calling me beside me. When I go to eat, I feel like he is sitting beside me and eating. Will the autocrat be able to bring my brother back? My brother, who lost everything, sacrificed his life for the country."
This wailing of the sisters, the bleeding of the heart, seems to weigh down the sky and the air.
Personal Information of the Martyr at a Glance
Name: Md. Abdul Latif
Date of Birth: 12/01/1978
Place of Birth: Goyla, Sirajganj Sadar
Occupation: Day laborer
Place of Injury: Elliot Bridge
Place of Martyrdom: Elliot Bridge
Type of Injury: Shot
Assailant: Jubo League cadre Musa
Date and Time of Injury: 04/08/2024; 11:30 AM
Date and Time of Martyrdom: 04/08/2024; 11:30 AM
Martyr's Graveyard (with GPS location): Malsha Para Graveyard (24°27'05.6"N 89°42'32.4"E)
Current and Permanent Address: Village: Goyla, Union: Sirajganj Sadar, Thana: Sirajganj Sadar, District: Sirajganj
Family Information
Father: Late Asu Munshi
Mother: Late Bedena
Monthly Income: 12,000/- (Combined income of four cousins)
Source of Income: Working in houses
Current Number of Family Members: 4
Other Family Members (Cousins)
Saleha Begum, Age and Profession: 47 years; working in other people's homes
Nasima, Age and Profession: 50 years; working in other people's homes
Shefali, Age and Profession: 55 years; working in other people's homes
Jyotsna, Age and Profession: 60 years; working in other people's homes
Advice
1. Creating a source of income by arranging for livestock or poultry farming.
2. Providing a house by buying land.