Md. Nahidul Islam

Md. Nahidul Islam was a brave and struggling hero. He was born on December 1, 2003, in a poor family in Uttar Bhatamara village, under Borhan Uddin police station in Bhola district. His father, Md. Abdul Jalil, is a hardworking 57-year-old man, and his mother, Bibi Fatema, is a housewife. Among the four children in the family, he was the only son and the apple of everyone's eye. Due to his father's illness, he took the responsibility of the family and his sisters on his own shoulders. Growing up in a poor family, Nahidul learned to struggle from a young age. He studied up to the 8th grade. Due to poverty and the needs of the family, he had to enter the struggle of life at a young age. This young man, hopeful for the future of the country, dreamed of the country's development. But the current situation of the country forced him to participate in the movement.
At the same time, he was a very religious and polite person. While continuing his studies, he started working as a Bikash marketing agent in the capital. He used to send more money home for the family than for his own needs. Even in this difficult life, his love for education remained unbroken. His dual life as a worker and a student was full of the harsh realities of life, but still, he cherished the dream of moving forward. The pain of poverty, hard work, and deep love for his family made Nahidul a living symbol of a real-life struggle.
Shaheed Nahidul's Economic Condition
His parents are distraught after losing their only son. Nahidul Islam was the sole breadwinner of his family. As his father had no employment, he joined as a Bikash marketing worker in Dhaka alongside his studies, through which he tried to help the family somewhat. But one day, leaving his parents' laps empty, Nahidul was unexpectedly was being martyred. His death started a wail in the family. Now they are worried about how they will manage and how they will run the family expenses. Nahidul's absence has pushed their lives into darkness, and the whole family is now destitute. In this dire situation, they hope that society will help them so that some light can be brought back into their lives. Perhaps that is why the poet wrote -
“Why do sorrows come in a procession like this?
Stopping the pulse of the lives of hardworking people?
Why do sorrows repeatedly love them?
Covering their lives full of laughter and tears with silence?”
Feelings of Close Relatives about the Shaheed
People become immortal in this world because of their deeds. Even after a person is gone, their deeds remain. Similarly, Shaheed Nahidul Islam is immortal even after his death. His praises are still on the lips of the locals.
His cousin Rakib says, "We two brothers joined the movement together, then I first received shrapnel bullets, a while after receiving them, my brother was shot, we took him to the hospital immediately after he was shot. The hospital doctor declared him dead. I still can't believe he is not with me. I pray that Allah grant him paradise and give him a high status among the Shaheeds."
His classmate and nephew, Md. Nihad, says, "When my uncle came to my house, he always stayed with us. He used to play with us. I can't believe that my uncle is no longer with us today. May Allah grant him paradise and give him a high status among the Shaheeds."
His classmate Zakir Hossain says, "Nahid Bhai and I were workers in the same movement. We used to work together. Many of his memories are intertwined with me. Memories that I cannot forget."
Al Amin Bhai, a responsible person in the movement, says, "When I was the president of Daulat Thana branch in 2018, I found Nahid as the responsible person of Dakkin Baradhali Dakhil Madrasa. Nahid was a dedicated worker of the movement. Whenever I mentioned any program, he would try his best to get all the students of the area and the institution to attend the program. I pray to Allah that just as he helped in the cause of Din (religion), may Allah help him in the same way as a guest of Paradise. (Ameen)"
His father, Abdul Jalil, says, "I am speechless after losing my only child. My son was one in a thousand. Until now, no one has ever complained about him in any matter. I had many dreams about my son, that he would grow up and get a good job, but Allah took him away. May Allah grant him the highest status in Paradise."
His mother, Bibi Fatema, says, "He was my only heart. After my 3 daughters, I cried and begged Allah for a son, I told Allah that my son would not need a job, only that he would stand by my grave and recite the Quran and offer prayers when I die. With this hope, I asked Allah for a son, and Allah gave me one, but I raised him, protecting him from fire and water, but the police shot and killed him. We want justice for this. My son died once, and for a moment, his father could not stay in the house for fear of the police. The police were there, and I did not see my son anymore. When I wake up, my heart races. What pain my son suffered while dying, I did not see. Where has my darling gone? May Allah accept my son as a Shaheed and grant him the highest status in Paradise."
Today Nahid is no more, but his protesting spirit, his sacrifice, the pain of his Martyrdom, everything seems to remain in the tears of his family, in the hearts of the people of the area. May Allah grant him Jannatul Ferdous, this is everyone's prayer today.
Background of the Incident
The story of Shaheed Nahidul Islam's life is like a tearful irony. At the most colorful times of life, when a young man thinks about his dreams, wishes, and family, Nahidul's life suddenly changed course due to the inevitable responsibility of the family. His only purpose was to keep the family's wheel running and to keep his parents well. But Nahidul's life story takes a dark turn when he joins the anti-discrimination student movement and is unexpectedly was being martyred.
Basically, the anti-discrimination student movement was going on throughout July '24.
The students raised their demands through peaceful protests, human chains, protest rallies, and seminars. However, in various instances, the movement was seen to become confrontational, where tension arose between the security forces and the students. Because the autocratic government, without accepting the just demands of the students, was running a steamroller of oppression. Throughout the country, bullets, rubber bullets, sound grenades, and tear gas were being thrown at students and the public. The hearts of thousands of mothers were being emptied, thousands of children were becoming fatherless. And Nahid joined this movement with the aim of realizing their rights.
In this context, on July 19, there were widespread clashes, attacks, vandalism, shootings, arson, and deaths in the capital Dhaka surrounding the students' 'Complete Shutdown' or all-out blockade program. There were also widespread protests, clashes, and violence in various districts of the country. To make this program successful, Nahid, along with his friend and cousin Rakib, participated in the movement after offering Jumma prayers on Friday at Mirpur 10. During the movement, there were chases and counter-chases. At one point, Rakib was first hit by bullets, and a while later, a police bullet hit Nahid's chest and went out through his back, and Nahid fell there. Immediately after being taken to the hospital, the doctor declared him dead. In addition, 119 people were was being martyred in the brutal shooting by the police and BGB. Immediately after this, the student movement took the form of a symbol of mass movement.
On this day, there were more people of various classes and professions on the streets than students, who had only one demand: to remove the autocracy. Needless to say, the capital Dhaka was more volatile than the whole country, where hundreds of people were was being martyred on this day. Jatrabari, Uttara, Rampura-Badda, Science Lab, Mirpur 1 and 10, Mohakhali, Mohammadpur, and Savar in Dhaka were the main hotspots of the movement. On this night, curfew was imposed across the country, and the army was deployed. At the same time, all internet services were cut off. As a result, the whole country was plunged into darkness due to lack of information. On this bloody July 19, Nahidul Islam was being martyred, emptying the laps of his parents.
Nahidul's death has harmed not only his family but also our society. Even today, when his memory touches us, it feels as if he was a brave warrior, whose heart was filled with pure kindness. Nahidul is no longer with us, but his ideals and struggle will live forever in our hearts. May Allah grant him Jannatul Ferdous, this is the prayer on everyone's lips today.
Shaheed Nahidul Islam's Personal Information at a Glance
Full Name : Md. Nahidul Islam
Birth : 1/12/2003
Occupation : Student and Bikash Marketing Worker
Permanent and Current Address : Village: Uttar Bhata Mara, Union: Bara Mainka, Thana: Borhan Uddin, District: Bhola
Father's Name : Md. Abdul Jalil. Age: 57 years
Mother's Name : Bibi Fatema, Occupation: Housewife
Number of Siblings : 3 Sisters
Shahina Begum, Age- 27, Married
Noor Nahar, Age- 25, Married
Sufia, Age- 23, Married
Place of Incident: Mirpur 10
Assailant : Police
Time of Injury : Date: 19/08/2024, 5 PM
Date, Time, and Place of Death : 19/08/2024, Mirpur Eiffel Hospital
Current Location of Shaheed's Grave : His Village, Family Graveyard.
Proposals for Helping the Shaheed's Family
Proposal-1: It would be helpful if a business could be set up for his father.
Proposal-2: Housing arrangements
Proposal-3: Providing a one-time financial grant and regular monthly allowance to the Shaheed's family.