Bablu Mridha

Shaheed Bablu Mridha was born in 1977 in a poor family in Patuakhali. His father, Mr. Mofez Ali Mridha (75), is a tailor by profession. His mother's name is Mosammat Hanufa Begum. Shaheed Bablu Mridha was a day laborer by profession. He worked as a construction worker. Shaheed Bablu Mridha is the father of two children. He was being martyred after being injured by police bullets in the July Revolution.
Family Condition
Shaheed Bablu's family's financial condition is very bad. They earn and eat daily. Both his parents are elderly. His father, Mr. Mofez Ali Mridha, works as a tailor. Shaheed Bablu Mridha lives separately with his two children. He is the sole breadwinner of the family. The family runs on his income. His elder son, Abu Taleb Sajib, is studying Intermediate at Dania Government College, and his younger son, Md. Mahim, is only 2 years and 6 months old. The elder son is extremely broken by his father's death. There is no one else to take care of them. His wife is in a very difficult situation with her two children. It is not possible for her to manage her elder son's studies, the food supply for her younger son, and the cost of his treatment.
Tragic Incident of Martyrdom
The quota reform movement started at the beginning of July. The police and the government's armed forces attacked the peaceful student movement. Hundreds were injured and many more were killed by police bullets across the country. The students burst into protest.
On July 19, 2024, there were widespread clashes, attacks, vandalism, shootings, arson, and deaths in the capital Dhaka surrounding the students' 'complete shutdown' or nationwide blockade program. Jatrabari, Uttara, Rampura-Badda, Science Lab, Mirpur 1 and 10, Mohakhali, Mohammadpur, and Savar in Dhaka were the main hotspots of the movement. There were widespread protests, clashes, and violence in various districts of the country as well.
On July 19, Shaheed Babul Mridha was injured by police bullets in Shani Akhra, the capital. Shaheed Babul Mridha lay there. Two local people came and took him to Dhaka Medical College in a bullet-ridden condition. There the doctors gave him first aid. The doctors on duty said that he needed surgery quickly. But as none of his relatives were there, the doctors delayed starting the operation. At 3 o'clock at night, Shaheed Babul Mridha's wife and his relatives quickly came to the hospital. A lot of money was needed for his treatment. His wife managed one and a half lakh Taka by borrowing from relatives. His operation started. The doctors operated and removed the bullet. Due to lying in a bullet-ridden condition for a long time, he lost a lot of blood from his body. He had to be given 19 bags of blood. A large wound had formed in his stomach. After giving blood, there was no blood left in his body. The blood would fall out and run out.
After the operation, he was taken to the ICU. He was admitted there for 19 days. He could not eat any food during this time. After 19 days, he was taken out of the ICU and given a bed. He felt a little better. Then he became ill again. There was some negligence in his treatment there. Due to improper dressing, his wound became infected and his body began to rot. The blood and flesh began to melt and fall off. The condition worsened. Then the interim government took responsibility for his treatment. He was taken from Dhaka Medical to DG Hospital. He was kept there for three days. As there was no improvement in his condition, he was taken to CMH Hospital. He had three more operations there.
But there was no improvement in his condition. The stomach pain and bleeding did not stop in any way. Everything in his stomach rotted due to the infection. Even if he drank water, he could not hold it. When the condition became critical, the doctors decided to operate again. At that time, the doctors said that he might not survive if he was operated on this time. He was operated on Thursday. After being unconscious for three days, on Monday, September 9, he drank the nectar of Martyrdom. The body of Shaheed Babul Mridha was taken to his village in a hearse. His burial was completed there.
Feelings of a close relative about the Shaheed
The Shaheed's wife said, "My husband was an innocent man. But the police did not spare him either. What will I do now? Where will I go with my two sons? His father's wish was to educate his son and make him a good man. That is why he took his son to Dhaka and got him admitted to college. But that was not to be. Who will make his son a good man now? How will I manage the food expenses of my younger son? The younger son will not even be able to remember his father's face. He will not even be able to say who his father was."
Kausar Alam (Assistant Teacher), a childhood friend of Shaheed Bablu Mridha, said, "I know and recognize Md. Bablu Mridha and his father Mofez Mridha. He was a very good man since childhood. His behavior was extremely excellent and polite. As we were of the same age, we used to play together. I am deeply saddened by his death."
Plea of the Shaheed's family
The Shaheed's wife has pleaded for standing by their family. She has requested to take responsibility for the care of her younger son. And she has requested that her elder son get a job.
Personal information of the Shaheed at a glance
Name : Shaheed Bablu Mridha
Occupation : Day laborer, Construction worker
Date of birth : 20/03/1977
Age : 47 years
Father : Mofez Ali Mridha, Age: 75 years
Mother : Mosammat Hanufa Begum
Place and date of injury : July 19, 2024, Shani Akhra, Dhaka
Date of Martyrdom : September 9, 2024
Place of Martyrdom : He was being martyred while admitted to CMH Hospital
Permanent and current address : Village: Kharija Betagi, 3rd Betagi San, Dashmina, Patuakhali