Md. Jamal Uddin Sheikh

"Father, if I become a martyr, bury me next to grandfather's grave."
Shaheed's Personal Life
Jamal Uddin Sheikh, a father of three, was the son of the late Azgar Ali Sheikh of Bharra village, Chapra Union, Kumarkhali Upazila, Kushtia. He was born on October 10, 1983. He was a garment worker by profession. His mother, Mosammat Rupjan, is a 70-year-old homemaker.
Family Life
Martyr Md. Jamal Uddin Sheikh's two elder sons were married and lived separately with their own families. His youngest son, Md. Rabbi Sheikh, studies in the 1st grade at Enam School and College. Due to financial hardship, he moved to Dhaka with his youngest child and wife two to two and a half years ago. He lived in a rented house next to Enam Medical in Savar, Dhaka. Initially, he worked in a brick kiln. Then, after being unable to cover household expenses by selling Kulfi ice cream, he took a job at Pakija Garments the month before his martyrdom. He was living well with his wife and child. On the day he was martyred, August 5th, he had many conversations with his wife while eating in the morning.
Background of the Movement
The 15 years of Awami misrule, vote-rigging, corruption, murder, injustice, and oppression had created a negative reaction in the public mind. The Awami government again started conspiring to re-establish the quota system. In 2018, Sheikh Hasina, in the face of strong student protests, accepted all the demands, but in her heart, there was a volcano of hatred. Therefore, after consolidating power in a one-sided election without opposition in 2024, the Hasina government again wanted to bring back the quota system. The continuous movement for the reform of quotas in government jobs had started on July 1. This non-violent movement turned violent on July 15. In the movement, armed assassins of Chhatra League, Jubo League, Shechashebok League, and police, RAB members started attacking the unarmed student public. After the martyrdom of Shaheed Abu Sayeed in Rangpur, the movement turned into a mass movement. The quota reform movement gradually took the form of a public movement.
It spread across the country as a movement of anti-discrimination students and the public. Initially, the non-violent movement of ordinary students gradually moved towards an anti-fascist government uprising. Gradually, this movement was not limited to the students; it became a huge mass uprising of the country's general public. People of all castes, religions, and creeds expressed solidarity with this uprising and took to the streets. Faced with the wrath of the angry masses, the head of the autocratic government, Sheikh Hasina, was forced to resign on August 5. But before resigning, she left behind countless misdeeds of her vile and distorted mind. As part of this, the armed forces were unleashed on the protesters and many innocent people. Unarmed, oppressed people were martyred by their bullets.
How He Was Martyred
Like the rest of the country, Savar also became turbulent with the anti-discrimination student-public movement. From the morning of August 5th, students and the public defied the curfew and protested at various points in Savar. In this situation, in the afternoon, after not finding his son at home and around, he went out to look for him. Although Jamal Sheikh could not directly participate in the front line, he had a spirited, freedom-loving morale. While searching for his youngest son near the Chairman's house at Savar Muktir Mor, he mingled with the protesting students and the public. At the height of the movement, at three in the afternoon, when the autocratic Sheikh Hasina government was overthrown, the protesters began a victory procession.
In this victory procession also, the killer police of the fascist government indiscriminately opened fire on the students and the public. At around 4:30-5:00 PM, unfortunately, two bullets hit Jamal Uddin's body; one in the chest and the other above the knee of his leg. He was immediately rescued by locals and taken to Enam Medical, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Upon receiving the news, his relatives brought his body to his village home at night. Without an autopsy, he was buried on the morning of August 6th at the local Bharra Purba Para Jannatul Baqi Graveyard.
In such a cruel twist of fate, the martyr's family members are in deep grief. The death of this innocent father is a great loss not only for his family but also for society.
Statements of Relatives about the Martyr
Montu Ali Sheikh, the martyr's cousin, said, "My brother was a very good man. He always lived a simple life. He never quarreled with anyone. He disliked these things."
Losing his father, the eldest son said in a choked voice, "Why did the police kill my father? I want justice for my father's murder."
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name: Md. Jamal Uddin Sheikh
Birth: 10-10-1983
Father: Azgar Ali Sheikh, Deceased
Mother: Mosammat Rupjan, Housewife - 70 years old
Profession: Garment Worker
Permanent Address: Village: Bharra, Union: Chapra, Thana: Kumarkhali, District: Kushtia
Time of Injury: August 5, 2024, 4:30 PM
Place of Incident: Near Chairman's House, Savar Muktir Mor, Dhaka
Date of Death: August 5, 2024, 5:00 PM, Savar Muktir Mor, Dhaka
Attacker: The killer police force of the autocratic government
Graveyard: Bharra Purba Para Jannatul Baqi Graveyard
Proposals
1. Bringing the youngest child under the orphan care project.
2. Providing a one-time financial grant and regular monthly allowance.