Hafez Md. Rasel Rana

Shaheed Hafez Md. Rasel Rana was born on February 17, 2005, in a poor family in Almonagar village, Deyara Union, Sadar Thana, Jessore District. He was a twelfth-grade student at Pashapol Degree College. His father, Md. Abdul Kuddus (deceased), was a farmer by profession, and his mother, Anjuara Begum (40), is a housewife. They are three siblings. His elder sister, Rabeya Sultana (22), is married. His younger brother, Md. Tarek Hossain Tushar (15), is a tenth-grade student.
Overall Description of the Incident of Martyrdom
The anti-discrimination student movement that took place in July-August 2024 initially arose as a protest against quota discrimination. When the fascist Awami government sent its goon squad, Chhatra League, to these peaceful rallies and gatherings to disrupt the gatherings, the goons engaged in a heinous attack on innocent, unarmed students of universities, schools, and colleges. They hurled bricks, flower pots, and stones at the innocent students marching from the rooftops of 10-story buildings, reveling in sadistic pleasure. As a result of the bricks, flower pots, and stones being thrown from above, one after another, the heads of the marching students were split open, and rivers of blood flowed.
When the injured students were taken to Dhaka Medical College, their goon squads, Chhatra League, Jubo League, and even hired street urchins, again attacked the injured in the hospital. They even brutally bloodied the student sisters. At this time, the police stood by like silent spectators. As a result, a fierce movement arose in every nook and cranny of the country. Those in remote areas who could not protest in their own areas became eager to join the movement in nearby towns or cities, as the oppression of the autocratic Awami government had ignited the fire of protest in everyone's blood.
One such protesting heroic soldier was Hafez Md. Bashar. He lived in Almonagar, Deyara Union, about 20 kilometers from Jessore city. Joining the movement from there was not an easy task. It involved traveling a long distance. But who could stop this indomitable youth? His blood was burning like a blazing fire. So, unable to stay at home, he overcame all obstacles to join the movement and joined the movement in Jessore city every day. As a member of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, some other Shibir activists joined him in the movement every day. On August 4, due to being late to leave the house, Bashar was not fortunate enough to join the movement that day. He returned home dejected. His mother, Anjuara Begum, seeing him dejected, asked him, "What happened to you, son? Why are you so downcast?"
Bashar said, "Nothing, Mom, just like that. I'm not feeling well."
When his mother insisted, he said, "All my organizational brothers have gone to the movement today, Mom, and only I couldn't go."
-Tears welled up in his eyes. Seeing this, his mother hugged him, kissed his forehead, and said, "It's okay that you couldn't go today, you'll go tomorrow."
Bashar calmed down a bit after receiving his mother's consolation. But he was restless all day. He could not get any news of his classmates, friends, or organizational brothers.
Finally, on the morning of August 5, Bashar went to the movement with an organizational brother of Chhatra Shibir and the local mosque's Imam.
On that day, the student-public movement was even more intense than other days. Every town, mofussil area, thana, and even union level was filled with protesters. Fearing such an intense movement, the Chhatra League had already fled, but the police, RAB, and BGB forces continued to fire bullets like rain. When the students and the public, disregarding these bullets, marched towards Ganobhaban, the killer, fearful, and oppressive Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign.
Upon hearing this news, everyone began to cry with joy. Everyone took out victory processions, and those who were already in the procession went to Ganobhaban and celebrated. Shortly after, joyous processions were taken out.
At this time, Bashar also cried with joy. At approximately 2:30 PM, he called his mother and said in a joyful voice, "Mom, Hasina has resigned!"
-Really? Is it true? Alhamdulillah! Where are you now, son?
-Mom, I am in the procession.
-Okay, come home quickly.
-Okay, Mom, I will come quickly.
Saying this, Bashar hung up the phone. At one point in the joyous procession, Bashar's companions lost him. After that, there was no further contact with him and his family. At around 7 PM, as Bashar did not come home, his mother called the number where she had spoken to him in the afternoon and learned that Bashar was not with them. Then the family and the protesters began searching for Bashar. The Imam and his fellow student went to the hospital to search, and at one point, the local identified him in the morgue. It was learned that he was recovered dead in the fire at the Zabeer Hotel. His burned body could not be seen by his mother and younger brother. His mother fainted after losing her beloved son.
After the funeral bath and shrouding, Bashar's funeral was finally held in Almonagar. He was buried in the family graveyard.
Comments from his fellow fighters
His fellow fighter and the local mosque's Imam said, "Bashar was a fearless boy. He used to pray regularly. He was always engaged in social work. He was a Hafiz of the Quran and had also led Taraweeh prayers several times."
Current state of the family
Currently, there is no one in their family to earn a living. Firstly, the pain of losing a child, and secondly, Bashar's family is spending their days amidst financial hardship.
Family Condition
Bashar's father was a poor farmer. He passed away two years ago. This put the family in a difficult situation. Bashar has a younger brother in the family. His elder sister is married. Before Bashar's father passed away, he somehow managed the family by earning around ten thousand Taka a month from agriculture. But after his death, there was no one in the family to earn a living. In this situation, Bashar had to take the responsibility of the family. Since Bashar was a Hafiz of the Quran and a member of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir, he easily tried to help the family financially with the Hadia he received from leading Taraweeh prayers and teaching the Quran.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name : Hafez Md. Rasel Rana
Date of Birth : February 17, 2005
Father's Name : Md. Abdul Kuddus
Mother's Name : Anjuara Begum
Profession : Student (Pashapol Degree College, Twelfth Grade)
Permanent Address : Village-Almonagar, Union: Deyara, Thana: Sadar, District: Jessore
Permanent Address : Same as above
Family Members : 3 (Mother and younger brother)
Location of Incident : Fire at Zabeer Hotel
Date of Incident and Death : August 5, 2024
Suggestions
1 . Arranging regular allowance for the martyr's family.
2. Bearing the educational expenses of the younger brother and arranging a job for him after his studies are completed.