Roknuzzaman Rakib

If I die, I will be a martyr.
In return, the country will be free."
Shaheed Roknuzzaman Rakib was born on February 20, 2002, in Balia Vekutia village of Jessore district. His father, Mr. Jahangir Alam, is a painter by profession. His mother, Mosammat Rozina Begum, is a housewife. His family consists of 4 members. His younger brother, Nazmul Hasan, studies in the twelfth grade. The family's livelihood depended on his father's income.
Shaheed Roknuzzaman was a victim of the brutal killings by the autocrat during the anti-discrimination movement. On August 5, 2024, Awami terrorists set fire to the Zabeer Hotel in Chitra Mor, Jessore. They tricked ordinary people into entering and then killed them. Roknuzzaman got trapped there. He was martyred after being burnt in the fire.
Detailed Incident
August 5, 2024, is a golden day in the history of Bangladesh. On this day, a new history was written. And the architects of this history are the common students and the public. With their blood, they started a new chapter. On this day, the country was freed from the hands of the fascist autocrat. For 16 long years, the fascist Hasina government deprived the people of this country of all kinds of human rights. That resentment gradually accumulated in the minds of the people. In that context, the anti-discrimination student movement that lasted throughout the month of July eventually turned into a movement to overthrow the government. The success of this movement came on August 5, 2024. Behind this success are the sacrifices of countless people, the cries of helpless people, the pain of losing loved ones. Hundreds of people gave their lives. Thousands more lost their limbs and became disabled.
Similarly, Roknuzzaman Rakib, a student of Jessore MM College, was vocal from the very beginning of the movement. He fought against discrimination, staying on the streets in continuous movements. Before leaving for the movement on August 5th, his mother prevented him from going out due to the curfew. He then said to his mother, "Look, mother, our student brothers have all been protesting together for so long. Today, there will definitely be a solution, Inshallah. If we don't go, it won't happen."
On August 5th, after hearing the news of the Prime Minister's resignation in the afternoon, Shaheed Roknuzzaman left home to join the victory procession. While the procession was crossing the Zabeer Hotel at Chitra Mor, he saw a fire there. Awami terrorists set fire there. Many were trapped inside. Some of Rokon's friends were also trapped there. Taking the risk of his life, Rokon went to rescue his friends along with others. While coming down with his friends, Roknuzzaman also got trapped on the stairs. Due to lack of oxygen, he suffocated and died there.
At around 5:30 PM, the fire service personnel arrived and started the rescue operation. At around 10 PM, his body was handed over to Roknuzzaman's family. Losing her son, the martyr's mother, Rozina Begum, became mentally unstable.
Burial
His funeral was held on August 6th. After the funeral, he was buried in the local graveyard in Madgopara, Balia Vekutia.
Feelings of Close Relatives about the Shaheed
The Shaheed's father says that his son repeatedly said, "If I die, I will be a martyr. If I am martyred, in return, the country will be free."
Classmate Sifatul Islam says, "Rakib used to pray 5 times a day and was involved in social work."
A few days before his martyrdom, during Jum'ah prayers, Shaheed Roknuzzaman requested the Imam Sahib to pray for the students. The Imam Sahib asked him, "In this situation, will I be able to pray for the students publicly?" Then Rakib said, "Even if you can't do it directly, please pray for the student brothers indirectly."
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name : Shaheed Roknuzzaman Rakib
Profession : Student, Government MM College Jessore
Age : 22 years
Date of Birth : 20/02/2002
Place of Birth : Balia, Vetkutia, Jessore
Father : Mr. Md. Jahangir Alam
Mother : Mosammat Rozina Begum
Date of Injury : August 5, 2024, Burnt in fire
Date of Martyrdom : August 5, 2024
Permanent Address : Village: Balia, Vetkutia, Union: Arabpur, Thana: Sadar Thana, District: Jessore
Current Address : Same as above
Suggestions
1. Arranging regular allowance for the martyr's family.
2. Arranging a job for the younger brother after his studies are completed.