Md. Jahidur Rahman

Md. Jahidur Rahman is one of the martyrs of the anti-discrimination student movement. He was born in the remote village of Nabinnagar in Lalmonirhat district. His father was the late Sekandar Ali, and his mother’s name was Mosammat Jamila Begum. On 5th August, during the Victory procession, he became a victim of the brutalities of Awami goons. He was locked in a house in Lalmonirhat, and the perpetrators set the house on fire. He was burnt to death in that fire.
Personal Life
Md. Jahidur Rahman was a student. He studied in the 9th grade at Lalmonirhat Government Technical School and College. As a young boy, Md. Jahidur Rahman was truly a talented and hardworking individual. He wanted to continue his studies through hard work and had dreams of going far in life. However, not everyone’s dreams come true. For some, dreams remain just that—dreams, and never materialize into reality. He lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother. His mother worked very hard in others' homes to ensure that her son could pass the SSC exams. He enrolled in college, but due to poverty, it became impossible to continue his education. He moved to Dhaka in search of work. His dreams were burned to ashes along with his body in the fire that claimed his life. The colorful dreams he had seen, vanished in an instant, turning into dark ashes.
Family Life and Economic Situation
Martyr Jahidur Rahman grew up in a very poor household. His father worked as a shop employee to support the family of four. He lost his father when he was only six years old. His sick mother took over the responsibility of the family, working in people’s homes and doing whatever she could to keep the family going. Their home was dilapidated, with four people living in two rooms—his sister, brother-in-law, and mother. Life was a constant struggle for this elderly woman. After her son’s martyrdom, she was left alone. His sister and brother-in-law have promised to look after her, but they too are very poor.
Martyrdom of Md. Jahidur Rahman in the Fire
5th August 2024 was a memorable day for the Bengali nation. After 15 years, the ruling Awami League party faced defeat. Due to the quota movement, former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was forced to leave the country along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana from Ganabhaban to a safe place. To make the ongoing non-cooperation movement successful, the Long March to Dhaka by the anti-discrimination student movement was planned for that day. Two days prior, new programs were announced by the anti-discrimination student movement, which had grown out of the quota reform movement. The movement continued throughout July. At one point, the government reformed the quota, but following the violence surrounding the quota reform movement, the demand for Sheikh Hasina’s resignation rose. From 11 AM on August 5th, people began flooding towards Dhaka, ignoring the curfew. Important areas of the capital like Shahbagh and the Central Shaheed Minar were crowded with people. Upon seeing this, the fascist Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country in fear. A new history was written with the fall of fascism and dictatorship. Victory and joy processions were held across the country.
Before leaving, the fascist Hasina created chaos in the country. There was destruction, fires, robberies, and killings everywhere, creating an atmosphere of fear. Md. Jahidur Rahman was among those who fell victim to this brutality. Six people were locked in a house in Lalmonirhat and burned alive by the perpetrators. Jahidur Rahman was one of them. He joined the victory procession with the common people. During the procession, local Awami League leader Shakhawat Hossain Suman locked six students in the third-floor room of his four-story mansion, and set fire to it from the outside. Within moments, all six were burned to death. Jahidur Rahman was one of them. The public claims that this brutal murder was well-planned. The house was behind the Central Shaheed Minar of Lalmonirhat Girls’ High School.
As night fell, the families of the six searched for them on Facebook and other online platforms. Around midnight, the news came that the bodies of the six had been recovered from the burned house. At that moment, the family suspected that their son, Md. Jahidur Rahman, might be one of them. With the help of the army, the bodies were recovered and taken to the Lalmonirhat Hospital morgue. The next morning, upon inquiry, they learned that their beloved son, Md. Jahidur Rahman, was among the burned bodies. The bodies were reduced to ashes, with no way to identify them. It was only after a painful identification process that Jahidur Rahman’s body was confirmed. Everyone was shaken by such a horrific death. His loving mother could not accept the tragic loss of her son.
Burial and Funeral
The body was handed over to the family at 5:30 PM. After the funeral prayer, his body was buried in the local family graveyard after the Maghrib prayers.
Testimony of Close Relatives Regarding the Martyr
According to the martyr's sister, her brother was devoted to his family. He loved his mother dearly. Unable to afford his studies, he went to Dhaka for work and sent whatever earnings he made back to his mother. He was very affectionate towards his sister.
Personal Information of the Martyr at a Glance
Name: Martyr Md. Jahidur Rahman
Occupation: Student, 9th Grade at Lalmonirhat Government Technical School and College
Date of Birth: 05.01.2002
Age: 22 years
Father: Late Sekandar Ali
Mother: Mosammat Jamila Begum
Date of Martyrdom: 5th August 2024
Place of Martyrdom: Burned to death in a house behind the Central Shaheed Minar at Lalmonirhat Girls' High School
Permanent and Present Address: Village: Nabinagar, Lalmonirhat Municipality, Lalmonirhat
Recommendation: It is essential to provide monthly assistance to the martyr's mother.