Md. Sarwar Hossain Shawon

Mehendiganj is a river-surrounded thana in Greater Barishal. Panbaria is a remote village in the Ulania Union of this thana. In this river-washed thana, on the 16th of January in the year 2005, a beautiful baby boy was born, illuminating his parents' lives. The parents named this beautiful child Sarwar Hossain Shawon. With Shawon's birth, the couple Zakir Khan and Selina Begum became parents for the first time. The family was overwhelmed with joy and emotion after the birth of their first child, Shawon. How wonderful it is when the dream of becoming parents for the first time comes true.
 
The first child of a destitute farming family
From the time Shawon was born, his father dreamed that his son would grow up and take responsibility for the family, and that the ravages of poverty would end. Due to poverty, his father, Zakir Khan, could not get much education. Shawon's education was also stopped due to the same poverty. Shawon dreamed of studying at a madrasa next to the house. The responsibility of his younger sisters' education and his father's support forced Shawon to look for work. So, this 15-year-old flying youth who would dream of becoming a doctor/engineer/teacher/pilot. Even seeing such dreams in a poor family seems absurd. Where it is difficult to manage food, there is again the luxury of education. That is why, during the Corona period, while only in the ninth grade, Shawon joined a job in Dhaka to take care of the family due to the illness of his parents and the extreme poverty of the family. After joining the job as an employee of a shop, Shawon felt very much that if he had any educational certificate, he might have got a better job with a better salary. So, without suppressing his indomitable desire for education, he got admitted to a vocational course along with his job. Shawon's father lives with his family in his village home in Barishal. He somehow managed the family by working as a daily laborer and cultivating other people's land. Shawon was the only earning member of the family.
How much boundless sorrow and suffering parents have to endure to raise a child from birth. Still, parents are hopeful. Maybe when the child grows up, their poverty will go away. Maybe the child will take the responsibility of the family / there will be a little respite from the parents' hard work. The mother will no longer have to cry hiding her face in the ravages of poverty. This autocratic fascist government has emptied the chests of thousands of mothers in this way. Has snatched away the only earning member of the family. There is no such heinous work that this autocratic government has not done.
Family financial condition
Shawon had a well-organized family with his parents, a younger brother and a sister. Shawon's father was the only earning member of the poor family. He is a daily laborer by profession and manages the family by cultivating other people's land with great difficulty. He works when he gets information about work from others and has to sit idle when he doesn't get work. Due to the poverty of the family, he sent his beloved first child to work after leaving his studies. Shawon has a 14-year-old sister and an 8-year-old brother. They do not have any land of their own capable of producing paddy. A tin-roofed wooden house on 8 decimals of land.
Background of the incident and the beginning of joining the movement
Even before the start of the student movement, the entire Bengali population was angry with the dictator. Like ten ordinary Bengalis, Shawon also had anger against the autocratic government. From the very beginning of the movement, Shawon also wanted to join the movement. On July 18, according to the students' announcement, a nationwide shutdown program began. On this day, protest processions at nearly all of the nation's educational institutions were attacked by the army, police, and Awami League occupation troops. Mugdho was among the forty individuals who were martyred on this momentous day. The army occupation troops' attacks and the deployment of BGB around the nation were insufficient to stop the students' movement. The net system remained operational. Nationwide, news of Mugdho's tragic death spread. The martyrdom of Mugdho and other July 18 Martyrs increased the student movement's momentum. Shawon was also watching this attractive news of the movement from his mobile and was mentally preparing himself to join the movement. The sacrifice of the Martyrs of July 18 inspired Shawon to join the movement. Although Shawon had no desire or situation to join a government job. Still, he thought, "Well, I don't have a job, my younger brothers and sisters will get this job system one day. Let me do something for them."
Time of joining the movement
On Friday, July 19, Martyr Shawon came home after praying Jumma prayer and had lunch. After finishing the meal, Shawon's mother called him and asked if he was at home or outside. Shawon told his mother on the phone that he was at home. At one point during the conversation, Shawon's mother heard a loud noise on the phone. It is understood from this that Shawon left the house while talking to his mother and joined the procession. Shawon's mother hung up the phone due to the shouting sound from the other side. Five minutes after hanging up the phone, Shawon's mother called her son again. But after that, she could not talk to her beloved son because she found the phone switched off. Shawon's place of joining the movement was the main gate of Ekramunnessa School in Rampura.
Time of injury
When the protesting students marched a little further from the main gate of Ekramunnessa School, the police and BGB launched a surprise attack on the protesting students to thwart the movement. They did not leave out anything, including rubber bullets, tear gas shells, and deadly bullets. These bullets of the oppressors pierced the chests of the students in the movement. Shawon was also in the front line of this procession, so suddenly a bullet hit his stomach and came out from his back amidst the commotion. Within moments, Shawon lost his strength to walk and fell to the ground.
Rescue attempt of injured Shawon
The time was approximately 3:30 pm. The students were somewhat scattered due to the police's surprise attack. Injured Shawon fell on the road. The protesting students crossed the police barricade and carried the injured Shawon on their shoulders, looking for a vehicle. More students were injured by bullets while trying to rescue the injured Shawon.
Rescuing and taking to the hospital
The protesting students somehow managed to arrange a vehicle and started for the hospital with Shawon. Before reaching the hospital, Shawon's body became lifeless due to excessive blood loss from the severity of the bullet. Shawon breathed his last on the way, answering the call of his Lord. The bodies of his friends were reddened by Shawon's blood. The soil of this country was reddened by Shawon's blood, which have been sacrificed to create a country free from discrimination.
Obstacles to hospital admission
The situation in the hospitals during these revolutionary days of July was also very dire. There were various restrictions on admitting the injured students participating in most hospitals. When Shawon was taken to the hospital, the doctor on duty informed that Shawon had died a few moments before arriving at the hospital.
Obstacles to bringing the Martyr’s body
The families of all the Martyrs of July faced unbearable obstacles in bringing back the bodies and completing the burial. This was no different in Shawon's case. Therefore, Shawon's body had to be brought to his own district of Barishal with utmost secrecy. There was no opportunity to announce the news of his death through loudspeakers because the broker forces were scattered in every district and union. Therefore, Shawon's Funeral Prayer (Janazah) prayers and burial were completed in a small scale with the presence of a small number of people.
Recollections of the Martyr’s close relatives
Father: My wait to hear the word "father" was over through my son Shawon. My family was filled with Allah's blessings through Shawon's birth. My son was very prayerful, honest, faithful, and humble. From childhood until now, he never disrespected me. Rather, he always understood the financial hardship of me and the family. He took the responsibility of educating his younger brothers and sisters at such a young age. My son used to say that even if I could not finish my studies, my brothers and sisters will study and achieve something big in life. He used to go to the mosque with me to pray from a young age. How can I forget the pain of losing a child? The heaviest thing for a father is to carry the body of his son. When I had to leave that heavy thing, there was nothing to do. Even after joining work to alleviate the poverty of the family, Shawon never forgot to inquire about his parents and siblings. I constantly search for the memories of my son at every step.
Mother: The first child is the precious gem of the heart. Losing that gem, the mother is almost mad. Her tears have dried up, yet the crying does not stop. Who can stop the mother's wailing and crying? It seems as if the sky and air are heavy. In every other word, Shawon's mother would say, who will call me 8-10 times a day and inquire about me, who will inquire about the younger brothers and sisters. When the little son asks about his brother, I cannot give any answer, I just hide my face and cry. I have only one prayer to Allah, may the chest of no other mother be emptied like this. May all the children be safe in their mother's arms, this is what I always pray for.
Younger sister: When I could speak in broken words, how much I called him "vai vai". Brother was also eagerly waiting to hear that call. Although four years older, I had a friendly relationship with my brother. We shared everything with each other. Brother would call every day and ask what I needed for studies. Even after two and a half months of losing my brother, I am not able to concentrate on my studies.
Younger brother: My brother was very good. He loved me very much. When he came home, he would bring delicious food for me. Whenever he called, he would ask me what I needed. It still feels like my brother will come back and call me in a loving voice.
Uncle: Shawon was a very talented boy. He respected all the elders and cherished the younger ones with love. I have never seen any bad qualities in Shawon. Alas, alas, they did not let my nephew live.
Uncle: My nephew was a very responsible boy; that's why he went to work at such a young age to support the family. None of us knew that this young man who went to support the family would answer Allah's call and leave at such a young age. It is very difficult for us to accept this death. We have left the judgment to Allah.
Aunt: My nephew was an extraordinary boy. He would call me "Aunt, Aunt" in a loving voice. When he came to visit, he would hold me tight, he didn't want to let me go. Losing Shawon, who was like a son to us, we are all heartbroken.
Classmate: Our friend Shawon was a very sociable boy. He would call us for prayers. We used to play together. I have never seen him argue with anyone. He was a very calm-tempered boy. He would give us good advice. When we met, he would say that he was thinking about how to do something good for the family. We are deeply saddened to lose a friend like Shawon.
Teacher: Shawon was a very talented boy. He respected the teachers very much. So it is very difficult for us to accept his departure like this. We have not lost a student; we have lost our own child.
Several proposals related to cooperation:
1. A permanent house is needed.
2. The cost of treatment for parents should be provided.
3. Assistance can be provided to cover the educational expenses of younger brothers and sisters.
Personal Information of the Martyr at a Glance
Full Name: Md. Sarwar Hossain Shawon
Date of Birth: January 3, 2009
Occupation: Shopkeeper
Address: Village: Panbaria, Union: Ulaniya, Police Station: Mehendiganj, District: Barishal
Father's Name: Md. Zakir Khan, Age: 42, Occupation: Farmer
Mother's Name: Selina Begum, Age: 38, Occupation: Housewife
Family Members: 4
Siblings: 2
Afrin Akter Bonnya, Age: 14, Grade: 9th
Hanif Khan, Age: 8, Grade: 2nd
Incident Location: Rampura, slightly ahead of the main gate of Ekramunnessa School
Assailant: Awami League cadres and police
Date of Injury: July 19, 2024
Date and Time of Death: July 19, 2024
Location of Martyr's Grave: Family graveyard in his village (Panbaria, Mehendiganj)