Md. Zinnatul Islam Khokon

Martyr Zinnatul Islam Khokon was born on December 31, 2000, in Bhuiyapara, Dalpara Union, Kendua Police Station, Netrokona District. He was born to the couple, the late Golam Mostafa and Champa Akter, of Bhuiyapara village on a bright and beautiful day. Martyr Zinnatul Islam Khokon lost his father about a year ago. His mother, Mosammat Champa Akter, is a middle-aged woman and lived with him. Shaheed Zinnatul had two brothers. His elder brother is Ashraful Islam. Due to their family's extreme poverty, neither of the brothers had the opportunity to study much. Poverty was a constant companion to their family.
To alleviate this poverty, their entire family moved to Gazipur. There, his father, Golam Mostafa, and everyone else took jobs in garment factories. About a year after Zinnatul lost his father, the factory they were working in also closed down. After that, Zinnatul took a job as a worker in a sand transport vehicle. His elder brother, Ashraful Islam, joined another factory in Joydebpur. The family was sustained by the income of the two brothers. Later, his elder brother moved to the Hossain Market area with his wife and children. Zinnatul married Rina Akter from the Gauripur area of Mymensingh a year ago. At the time of his martyrdom, his wife was pregnant.
How Zinnatul Islam Khokon Became a Martyr
August 5, 2024, was the day of the final victory of the July-August mass uprising and the anti-discrimination student and public movement. On this day, the autocratic fascist government’ head, Sheikh Hasina fled the country. Her 16-year tyrannical rule came to an end. The students and the general people were jubilant with the joy of victory. But in this joyful procession, the autocratic Hasina's pet police force and cadre forces, the infamous Chhatra League and Jubo League, carried out indiscriminate massacres. Shaheed Zinnatul Islam was a victim of this massacre.
When the anti-discrimination student and public movement was at its peak, and students and the public from all over the country took to the streets, Zinnatul's work stopped. Consequently, he participated spontaneously in the anti-discrimination student movement from then on.
On August 5, the day of the autocrat's final fall, around 3 pm, Zinnatul participated with the students in front of Basan Police Station in Gazipur. At this time, to suppress the movement, the murderous police of the autocratic fascist government fired indiscriminately at the freedom-seeking students and the public. In this situation, two bullets suddenly hit Zinnatul's body. One in the stomach and the other in the thigh. With these two bullets, Zinnatul immediately fell to the ground. He was quickly rescued and taken to the hospital, but it was too late. The doctor on duty at the hospital declared him dead.
Zinnatul was stopped by bullets. His recently married wife became a widow prematurely, and the unborn child in his wife's womb became an orphan before coming into the world. Zinnatul, who was overjoyed at the arrival of his child, did not have the good fortune to see his child. Did anyone know that fate would bring them face to face with such a harsh reality?
Further Details About the Martyr
Shaheed Zinnatul Islam Khokon was a young man living a struggling life. Every day of his life was spent fighting against harsh realities. He worked as a laborer in a sand transport vehicle. However, he had an indomitable desire in his heart to do something for people and for justice. To alleviate the family's poverty, he moved to Gazipur with his entire family 10 years ago. With his father's death and the factory closure, he had to continue fighting the battle of life. Their family was lower-middle class, where every penny was worth a lot.
Zinnatul's elder brother, Ashraful Islam, ran the family by working in a garment factory. New hope shone in Zinnatul's life, who was working as a laborer on a sand truck, a year ago when he married Rina Akter from Mymensingh. With the beginning of his newly married life, Zinnatul's family was waiting for a new guest. His pregnant wife, Rina Akter, was carrying their first child.
Their happy days were suddenly shattered. On August 5, a day that was bright and shining as well as dark and gloomy, his life's lamp went out in front of Basan Police Station in Gazipur.
He dreamed of a just society, where people would have the right to stand against injustice. However, he left this world before his dream could be fulfilled. His death brought sorrow not only to his family but to the entire society. Pregnant Rina Akter is now deeply worried about her unborn child. Her child lost his father before coming into the world. And that child's life will now begin facing a harsh reality. The widowed and grief-stricken Rina now asks, how will their family survive? How will the child survive, who will never have the opportunity to see his father's face?
Zinnatul's mother, Champa Akter, said, "My son used to work as a laborer in a sand truck. His work became stopped during the movement. From then on, he went to the movement with the students. Even though I forbade him, he didn't listen. My son was shot and killed, who will bring justice to his murder? We are poor people, if we don't work for a day, we can't eat. How will we get through this crisis, I don't understand anything."
Zinnatul's elder brother, Ashraful Islam, said, "I have no words to express myself after seeing my younger brother's body. My heart breaks to think that my brother's child will not be able to see his father's face."
The untimely death of Martyr Zinnatul Islam Khokon has deeply touched not only his family but the entire society. His sacrifice will remain a torch for the struggle for a just and discrimination-free society. His family demands that Zinnatul's killers be brought to justice and that Zinnatul be given state honors. They also expect financial assistance from the government due to their economic hardship.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name : Md. Zinnatul Islam Khokon
Date of Birth : December 31, 2000
Place and Time of
Martyrdom : In front of Gazipur Basan Police Station, August 5, 2024, 3:30 pm
Type of Injury : Gunshot wound
Attacker : Murderous police of the autocratic Hasina government
Burial Place : His own village, Netrokona
Profession : Laborer
Father : Deceased Golam Mostafa
Mother : Champa Akter
Permanent Address : Village: Bhuiyapara, Union: Dalpara, Thana: Kendua, District: Netrokona
Wife : Rina Akter, Homemaker (pregnant)
Proposals for Assistance to the Martyr's Family
1. Regular financial assistance is needed.
2. The pregnant wife and unborn child need sustenance.