Shakib Rayhan

‘Before his death, he asked his companion beside him, ‘Will the country gain independence through my martyrdom?’ His companions said, ‘Inshallah.’ Then he drank water and recited the Kalima (words of faith).’
Shakib Rayhan was born on September 14, 2004, in Nabapalli village, Akaba Mosque Union, Sonadanga Thana, Khulna district. He was the youngest child of Mr. Sheikh Azizur Rahman and Nurunnahar Begum. As the family grew, financial hardship naturally arose. With increasing family needs, his father, Azizur Rahman, became worried. He left Khulna for Dhaka in search of a livelihood. He tried to earn a living through small businesses. He also occasionally worked as a day laborer. But everything came to a standstill during the 2020 Corona pandemic. The martyr's father was unable to manage anything.
Even the children's education came to a halt. Shakib Rayhan's education was stopped while he was studying Hifzul Quran. The martyr completed 18 paras of the Quran. Mr. Azizur Rahman returned to his area. He tried to cover the family expenses by running a grocery store. With the limited income, he completed the marriage of his eldest daughter. His middle son, Sabbir Rayhan, is currently a small businessman. Even though the martyr's father returned to the village, Shakib started working to support the family. First, he started working as a sales representative (SR) for Robi Simcard. Then he joined Banglalink Company. However, after some time, he was dismissed from his job after being absent for three days due to a leg injury in an accident. Later, he continued to look for new jobs while working in various organizations on short-term contracts. After some time, he joined as a field worker for the economic census. The martyr was supposed to join a new job on August 1, 2024. His parents repeatedly asked him to return to Khulna. He would say, "There are fewer opportunities to do something in Khulna. I will bring smiles to your faces by getting a job or doing business in Dhaka, then I will return, Inshallah."
Background of Martyrdom
When the autocratic government unleashed police and Awami League-Chhatra League goons on the students' regular movement against government discrimination, the movement turned violent. On July 16, 6 people were killed across the country. The line of dead bodies continued to grow day by day. When students were driven out of the public university halls by joint attacks of police and Chhatra League on the 17th, the students of private universities took the lead in the movement on the 18th. On this day, the police and RAB used helicopters and fired on the students.
On the 19th, after the Jummah prayers, the general public and students took to the streets, and the police and Chhatra League goons fired on the students' peaceful program. Shakib Rayhan actively joined the movement from July 15. On the 17th, when the universities were bloodied by the attacks of the police and Sheikh Hasina's goons, Shakib Rayhan expressed his support for the students by posting the bloody logos of the universities as his profile picture on his Facebook profile. Which still exists. He used to go to the movement with his friends every day. His family repeatedly forbade him from going to the movement. Finally, on the 19th, at three in the afternoon, when the police attacked the student-public rally at Mirpur 10, Shakib fell down after being injured by police bullets. The hot bullet fired by the police pierced his chest and came out through his back. The students rescued him from the spot and on the way to the hospital, he died in the car.
When he was taken to Suhrawardy Hospital, the doctor on duty declared him dead. His elder brother received the news and went to the hospital. The police made various excuses to avoid handing over the body. They said it was a police case; a case would have to be filed. It would take a long time. They would have to come later to take the body. After much crying and pleading, the police later allowed the body to be taken from the morgue. They informed that ‘no death certificate would be issued.’ The next day, on July 20, in the morning, his elder brother Sabbir Rayhan returned to his village with the body in an ambulance. After the funeral, Shaheed Shakib Rayhan was buried in the Basupara graveyard.
Before his death, he asked his companion beside him, ‘Will the country gain independence through my martyrdom?’ His companions said, ‘Inshallah.’ Then he drank water and recited the Kalima.
Statements from Close Relatives
Shakib's mother, Nurunnahar Begum, said, "Around five in the afternoon, someone called Shakib's father's mobile phone number and said that Shakib had been shot. He was being taken to Suhrawardy Hospital in Dhaka." Hearing this, she broke down. At first, she could not understand what to do. Later, she called her elder son and son-in-law who were in Dhaka and informed them of the incident. They searched Suhrawardy Hospital and brought Shakib's body home. My son was alive for about two hours after being shot. He was taken to two clinics. But they did not admit him. Later, Shakib died on the way to Suhrawardy Hospital. I can't think of how to console myself. I never thought that I would have to bury my young son like this. My son is gone, I understand the pain! Now there is nothing to do but pray for my son.” “He called last Wednesday too. He talked so much. Now that my Shakib is gone, what is the point of saying all this? We have nothing to say. We got the body back, thanks to Allah. Many mothers don't even get that.”
The martyr's father, Mr. Azizur Rahman, said, "Last Friday, we both went to Dhaka to see our sons. While coming back, I repeatedly told Shakib, 'Come with us to Khulna.'" My son said, "I will join a new job from August 1. I will bring smiles to your faces by getting a job." But who will I say that they have snatched away all our smiles? My son would laugh at anything I said. My heart would be cooled by his laughter. ‘I don't want justice from anyone. Allah will do justice.’
The truth of the public's words was found by going in front of the Baitul Akaba Mosque. After the Zohr prayers, there was a conversation with some devotees. Everyone unanimously said that there were few such polite boys in the area. Seeing the area's favorite face return as a corpse, everyone's face showed anger and disappointment.
Family's Economic Condition
Shakib's house is located in the 18th ward of Khulna city, in the Nabapalli area. Shakib's parents live in a dilapidated one-room house with a tin roof and walls in front of the Baitul Akaba Jame Mosque there. The entrance to the house is also quite dilapidated. The kitchen is covered with Golpata leaves. Nurunnahar received that piece of land from her paternal inheritance. They somehow live there by building a house. His father, Sheikh Md. Azizur Rahman, had a clothing business. After the business closed during the Corona period, he has opened a grocery store. Mother Nurunnahar Begum is a housewife. Her elder son, Sabbir Rayhan, does a small online business in Dhaka. Among their two sons and one daughter, Shakib Rayhan was the youngest. Shakib used to rent a house in the Rupnagar area of the capital. He wanted to live there with his mother. Nurunnahar Begum was also preparing to go to Dhaka. The killer's bullet destroyed everything in an instant. It has left the martyr's parents speechless.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name: Shakib Rayhan
Date of Birth: 14-09-2004
Father: Sheikh Azizur Rahman (Bhulon)
Mother: Nurunnahar Begum
Permanent Address: Village: Nabapalli, Union: Akaba Mosque, Thana: Sonadanga, District: Khulna
Profession: Employed
Place of Incident: Mirpur 10
Time of Injury: July 19, 2024, 3 PM
Time of Martyrdom: July 19, 2024, 5 PM on the way to the hospital
Type of Injury: Bullet wound in the chest
Attacker: Police
Current Location of Martyr's Grave: Basupara Government Graveyard
Proposals
1. A job can be arranged for the martyr's brother.
2. A permanent house can be provided for the martyr's parents in the village.
3. Capital can be provided to the martyr's father for business.