Md. Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin

Shaheed Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin was born in Kumrashason village, Mymensingh. He was very dear to everyone in the village. He had a cordial relationship with all his friends, neighbors, and everyone around him. After his death, the locals declared a road in Ishwarganj Upazila to be named Shaheed Shahriar Chattar (Shaheed Shahriar Square).
Due to his father's job, Shaheed Shahriar also lived in Dhaka for a considerable time. His family resided in a rented house in the Kuril Kuratoli Bazar area of the capital. He was a student of the humanities department at Ideal College in Ishwarganj Municipality area and had taken part in the ongoing HSC examinations in 2024. Although he had completed five exams, he could not attend the remaining ones. The exams were postponed due to the quota reform movement, and he went to Dhaka on July 10th. After that, he participated in the movement in Dhaka.
The martyr has an 8-year-old younger sister. Sheikh Mumtahina Binte Matin, who studies in the 2nd grade, is now the only child of his parents. Shahriar's family was financially reasonably well-off. His father worked as a Marketing Executive Officer in a private company in Dhaka. He has now left his job and returned to the village due to his poor mental state. His mother used to teach at Habiganj Shahjalal Government College. But she lost her job in 2016 due to the wrath of a local Awami League MP. Currently, both his parents are unemployed and staying at home.
Description of the Incident
Shaheed Shahriar was an HSC candidate. The exams were postponed due to the student movement. He went to Dhaka to his mother for leisure time. Later, he went to visit his aunt's house in Mirpur 2. There, he participated in the movement with his cousin Badal. On July 18, Shahriar was shot near the Gol Chattar (Roundabout) of Mirpur 10. Badal was also shot that day. The protesters were on one side, and the killer police and terrorist Chhatra League were on the other.
Shahriar's father, Abdul Matin, said, “On July 18, at around 5 pm, Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin was shot near the Gol Chattar of Mirpur 10 in Dhaka. The bullet entered through the right side of his eye and pierced his brain. I was in the village at that time. After receiving the news of my son being shot, it was almost one o'clock at night when I reached Dhaka Medical College. After overcoming many obstacles on the way, even though I reached my son, I could not bring him back alive.” Saying these words continuously, the martyr's father started crying like a child.
He further said, “The doctor declared my son, who was on life support, dead at around two o'clock in the afternoon on July 20, 2024. When I went to Mirpur Police Station to file a GD (General Diary), the authorities did not accept the GD. Later, I filed a GD at Shahbagh Police Station. After the autopsy, the body was brought home at half past twelve on Sunday night, July 21. Although the police tried to prevent the body from being brought, we managed. On Monday, July 22, at 10 am, after the funeral, he was buried in the Graveyard in front of the house.” After a short pause, Abdul Matin started speaking again, “A small bullet finished my son! I want justice for my son's murder. But to whom shall I seek justice?”
Shahriar's father, Mr. Abdul Matin, lamented, saying that he cannot bear the grief of losing his son. His son's face and memories repeatedly flash before his eyes. He added, “I had to work hard to earn a living. Seeing this, my son dreamed of becoming a big businessman. But now everything is over for me. Had I known that my son would go to the movement, I would never have let him go. His uncle also forbade him from participating in any movement when he was going to Dhaka.”
Shahriar's family does not want to face any kind of administrative, police, or political harassment in this incident. In this regard, his uncle Abdul Motalib said, “We have lost our nephew. The administration is taking various information. We do not want any kind of administrative, police, or political harassment. We will spend the rest of our lives hoping that we will get justice one day.”
Shahriar's mother, Momtaz Begum, is not accepting any consolation. She is devastated by the grief of losing her only son. Her crying would not stop, and she repeatedly said the same thing, "They snatched my heart's treasure."
Shahriar's father, Mr. Abdul Matin, filed a case in the International Criminal Tribunal against Sheikh Hasina as the number one accused, Rashed Khan Menon as the number two accused, and Hasanul Haq Inu as the number three accused, along with a total of 52 people. All the members of his family pray to Allah to accept the martyrdom of Shaheed Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin and also to raise him as a martyr on the Day of Judgment.
The martyr's uncle said, “Shahriar was my very dear nephew. He had a very deep relationship with me and everyone in the family. He had a good relationship with everyone in the area. Everyone loved him very much. My brother has become destitute after losing his dear nephew. We want a fair trial for this murder.”
Recommendations
1. The martyr's parents can be kept in touch. with and checked on.
2. Arrangements should be made to reinstate the martyr's mother's job.
3. Arrangements should be made for the martyr's father's employment.
 
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name: Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin
Date of Birth: 01-11-2005
Place of Birth: Kumrashason
Profession: Student
Educational Institution: Ishwarganj Ideal College
Place of Injury: Mirpur-10, Gol Chattar, Dhaka
Place of Martyrdom: Dhaka Medical College
Type of Injury: Bullet wound to the head
Assailant: Police/Chhatra League/Jubo League
Date and Time of Injury: July 18; 5:00 PM
Date and Time of Martyrdom: July 20; 2:06 PM
Martyr's Graveyard (with GPS Location): Kumrashason, Maijbag, Ishwarganj, Mymensingh-90.62319,24.66189
Permanent and Current Address: Village: Kumrashason, Union: Maijbag, Thana: Ishwarganj, District: Mymensingh
Father: Md. Abdul Matin
Father's Profession and Age: Employed, 49 years
Mother: Momtaz Begum
Mother's Age: 45 years
Monthly Income: No significant income
Sister: Sheikh Mumtahina Binte Matin, Age & Profession: 8 years, Student, 2nd Grade