Md. Atiqul Islam

Shaheed Md. Atiqul Islam, the youngest of the four sons of Shah Alam Master, a resident of Rupnagar area of Ward No. 7 of Galachipa Municipality in Patuakhali district. His nickname is Rubel. Rubel was born in 1991. After completing SSC with Golden A+ from Galachipa Government Textile Institute in 2007, he completed Diploma Engineering in Textile from Barishal Government Textile College in 2011. Later, after completing BSc in the same subject from Dhaka City University in 2014, he joined a job at Justex Buying House in Baridhara area of Dhaka. He was last working as a Senior Merchandiser. On June 29, 2017, Rubel was married to Mosammat Tamanna (26), daughter of Jasim Uddin of the neighboring Rangabali Upazila, in a family ceremony. They have a 17-month-old daughter named Alisba Islam Farista.
Family Condition
Father Shah Alam Master said, "At that time, I used to work in a registered school with a salary of 500 Taka. It was very difficult to run a family of six members with a small salary. At that time, we lived in the village. Since my son Rubel was talented, my sister Khairun Nahar Lipi took him to Galachipa and took the responsibility of his education. Rubel completed his SSC from her place. Lipi's brother Shamim also helped. My son was very good. He did not do any politics. He was involved in social work. Among the four brothers in the family, Rubel was the most self-reliant. He used to help all the brothers. His family used to run on his income. The families of brothers and sisters also benefited from him. Atiqul has a brother who is speech and hearing impaired. He has a 1-year-old daughter. His wife Tamanna (27) is an ordinary housewife. There is no other source of income for the Shaheed's wife and child to run their lives.
Incident of Martyrdom
The anti-discrimination student movement continued throughout the month of July 2024. The movement, which started peacefully, later turned violent. The government resorted to illegal means to suppress the movement. Students and people across the country burst into protest. Hundreds were killed and thousands injured by police bullets. On July 19, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, in an attempt to obstruct the students' protest, announced the indefinite suspension of public gatherings and processions. The Bangladesh Railway Authority, on the orders of top government officials, directed the closure of train services between Dhaka and the rest of the country. This was done to prevent quota reform activists from using trains for travel or assembly. The internet connection shutdown and nationwide shutdown, which started on July 18, continued until July 19. The call for a quota reform movement across the country was widely answered.
On this day, around 10 am, the teachers of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology protested by wearing black cloths on their faces. At approximately 12:45 pm, after protesters in Bhairab police station of Kishoreganj district besieged the police station, the police opened fire on the crowd from inside the station, injuring over a hundred students. On this day, the capital Dhaka city turned into a battlefield. At every point in Dhaka, members of the police, BGB, RAB, Ansar and various law enforcement agencies attacked ordinary students with heavy weapons, armored vehicles, pistols, rifles, tear gas shells, rubber bullets, grenades and bombs. During this time, hundreds were killed and more than a thousand people were injured in police firing.
The dreams of hundreds of families were shattered by the bullets of the government's pet forces. One of them was Shaheed Atiqul Islam Rubel. On Friday, July 19, at 3 pm, Rubel was returning home from office. At this time, he came under police fire. When he entered the Mirpur-10 Golchattar area, there was a clash between the students and the police. The entire area turned into a death trap due to the tear gas shells, rubber bullets, grenades and shotgun bullets fired by the police. A stray bullet hit Rubel's head. Shaheed Rubel immediately fell to the ground. The streets were stained with blood. Locals first took him to Al-Helal Specialized Hospital, from where he was quickly sent to Suhrawardy Hospital. The doctors of Suhrawardy Hospital declared him dead. Rubel's dream was over. His family broke down in tears after hearing the news of his death.
Burial
The next day, Saturday, Rubel's body was brought to Galachipa. Later, after the first Funeral Prayer (Namaz-e-Janaza) at Galachipa Jainpuri Khanqa and the second Funeral Prayer (Namaz-e-Janaza) at his village home in Grammardan area of Panpatti Union of the Upazila, he was buried in the family graveyard.
Statements of close relatives about the Shaheed
Father Shah Alam Master said, "At that time, I used to work in a registered school with a salary of 500 Taka. It was very difficult to run a family of six members with a small salary. At that time, we lived in the village. Since my son Rubel was talented, my sister Khairun Nahar Lipi took him to Galachipa and took the responsibility of his education. Rubel completed his SSC from her place. Lipi's brother Shamim also helped. My son was very good. He did not do any politics. He was involved in social work. Among the four brothers in the family, Rubel was the most self-reliant. He used to help all the brothers. Who will take us to the doctor now and take care of us?" Rubel's mother said in a tearful voice, "My son was my moon, my son has left us in the dark." At this time, she asked everyone to pray for her son Rubel. The previous day, Thursday night, Rubel had his last conversation with his parents. At this time, they told Rubel to be careful.
Rubel's wife Tamanna said, "On the day of the incident, at 12 noon, Rubel called me and forbade me to go outside amidst the chaos. That was my last conversation with him. At 3:52 pm, I came to know that Rubel had been shot. I rushed to Suhrawardy Hospital immediately; but by then my dream had been burnt to ashes." At this time, she said in a tearful voice, "My husband was not guilty. Then why did he die? Who will take the responsibility for this? He has a small daughter. I have become helpless after losing him."
The deceased's aunt, Khairun Nahar Lipi, assistant teacher of Mohammadpur Government Primary School, said, "I have helped Rubel's education in various ways. After hearing the incident, I rushed to Suhrawardy Hospital; but by then Rubel was no more."
Tahmina Begum, the Shaheed's aunt, said, "I am the aunt of Shaheed Atiqul Islam. He was very good and handsome. He used to help all our families financially more or less. He had sincere love for everyone. Help is needed for his 18-month-old daughter. May Allah grant him paradise.
A Glimpse of the Shaheed's Personal Information
Amen."Name : Md. Atiqul Islam
Birth : 12-09-1991
Place of Birth : Patuakhali
Occupation : Merchandiser
Father : Md. Shah Alam Howlader
Mother : Mosammat Momtaz Begum
Date and place of injury : June 19, 2024, 4 pm, Mirpur 10
Date and place of Martyrdom : June 19, 2024, evening, Suhrawardy Hospital
Grave location GPS : https://maps.app.goo.gl/tuJbEG8U1PSdZr2EA
Permanent and current address : Village: Grammardan, Union: Panpatti, Thana: Galachipa, District: Patuakhali
Proposals
1. Providing one-time financial grant and regular monthly allowance to the Shaheed's family
2. All the responsibilities of the child can be taken