Md. Sagar Rahman

"No Food in the Stomach, But a Heart Full of Courage"
Md. Sagar Rahman was one of the martyrs of the 2024 mass uprising that led to the downfall of the dictatorship. He was martyred on the victory day, August 5.
Sagar was born on April 2, 2004, in Kittinia village, Chaklahat Union, Sadar Upazila, Panchagarh District. He was the sole breadwinner of his family.
• Father’s Name: Md. Robiul Islam (55), a cattle trader.
• Mother’s Name: Mosammat Sakhina Khatun (42), a homemaker.
A Life of Struggles and the Martyrdom of Sagar Rahman
It is a matter of deep sorrow that when Shaheed Sagar Rahman was only 10 months old, his father, Robiul Islam, divorced his mother. The reason was that Sagar's mother was mentally unstable. In such a situation, his grandmother took in her daughter and infant grandson and brought them to her home.
Sagar grew up in his grandmother's house. However, his mentally ill mother and his poor grandmother lived a life of misery and hardship. His grandmother managed to sustain the family with occasional help from others.
At the age of six, Sagar was enrolled in school with the help of a kind neighbor. Through various charitable aids, he managed to appear for the SSC exam, but failed in two subjects due to financial struggles, his mother's mental illness, and lack of educational support. As a result, he had to discontinue his studies.
Struggles and Responsibilities
To support his mentally ill mother and ailing grandmother, Sagar moved to Dhaka in 2022 with the help of his maternal uncle. He took a job at Spart Online (ISP Service) in Merul Badda. He lived in a tin-roofed rented house in Merul Badda with his mother. Due to his job at the cable network office, he built strong relationships with local people and his colleagues. With donations from well-wishers and his salary, he single-handedly managed his mother and grandmother’s medical expenses and household responsibilities.
The Incident of Martyrdom
On July 18, 2024, during the anti-discrimination student movement’s complete shutdown program, Sagar participated in the Merul Badda protest with his cousin Sajib. Sagar was a fearless frontline fighter in the movement. On August 5, 2024, the anti-dictatorship one-point movement reached its final stage. Due to the brutality of the police force, RAB, and BGB, protesters took shelter in various alleys. Sagar and his friends hid under an under-construction building.
Around 12 PM, he received a call from his office and went to work. Meanwhile, the fascist government panicked as the streets of Dhaka and the entire country were flooded with protesters.
At 2 PM, when millions of students and citizens marched towards the Prime Minister’s residence (Ganabhaban), news spread that the dictator had resigned and fled. Victory processions broke out nationwide, including Badda. Sagar took leave from work and joined the victory march.
As the procession moved towards Badda police station, armed police officers positioned on the rooftop of the station opened fire indiscriminately on the crowd. Many were injured and killed as bullets rained down, and the streets turned red with blood.
Amidst the chaos, a bullet struck Sagar Rahman’s waist and exited through his back. His body was covered in blood as he collapsed to the ground. The Angel of Death did not delay—he embraced martyrdom on the spot.
His fellow protestors couldn't immediately take him to the hospital, but with the help of local students, he was eventually transported to Mugda Medical College Hospital. However, just like in many other cases, the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
Sagar’s maternal uncle and cousin Sajib rented an ambulance and took his body back to his village that very night. Thousands of mourners attended two funeral prayers, after which Shaheed Sagar Rahman was laid to rest in the family graveyard as one of the martyrs of the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement.
The Devastation Left Behind
Losing her only source of support, Sagar’s mentally unstable mother, Sakhina Akter, fell into an even worse state. She could not accept her son’s tragic death for even a moment. There is no one left to care for his ailing grandmother. Sagar Rahman’s family is now in extreme financial hardship. Their only breadwinner is gone. His mentally unstable mother and sick grandmother are living in a broken tin-roofed house in Badda with nothing but misery.
Proposed Assistance for the Martyr’s Family
1. Disability allowance for Sagar’s mentally ill mother, and elderly allowance for his grandmother.
2. One-time financial assistance could be provided for the family.
3. Proper medical treatment for his mentally unstable mother.
4. Reconstruction of their only home in Badda.
Shaheed’s Personal Life at a Glance
Full Name: Md. Sagar Rahman
Date of Birth: April 2, 2004
Place of Birth: Kittinia Village, Sadar, Panchagarh
Occupation: Employee at Spart Online (Cable Connection Office)
Father: Md. Robiul Islam
Mother: Ms. Sakhina Akter
Current Address: Village: Kittinia, Union: Chaklahat, Thana: Sadar, District: Panchagarh
Permanent Address: Village: Kittinia, Union: Chaklahat, Thana: Sadar, District: Panchagarh
Place of Martyrdom: Badda Police Station
Perpetrator: Police
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Date & Time of Being Shot: August 5, 2024, at 3:30 PM
Date & Time of Martyrdom: August 5, 2024, at 5:30 PM
Burial Site: Ancestral village home