Md. Bakul Mia

Martyr Bakul Mia was the sole breadwinner of his family. He was a rickshaw puller by profession. The income he earned by pulling a rickshaw in Dhaka city was sent to his wife and children in his village home. His family was doing quite well with his earnings. He lived in Uttara, Dhaka.
How He Became a Martyr:
From mid-July, the whole country was in turmoil due to the anti-discrimination student movement. After Abu Saeed was killed in police firing on July 16, the entire country, including Dhaka, became even more agitated. The number of students and citizens on the streets of Dhaka increased daily. Along with this, blockades and movements also increased.
July 18, 2024. A complete shutdown was being observed across the country as part of the strict program of the anti-discrimination student-citizen movement. On the other hand, the government had imposed a curfew to suppress this movement. But defying the curfew, students from all over Dhaka took to the streets.
That afternoon, Bakul Mia left his rickshaw at the garage and went to Azampur, Uttara, with his friends to see the movement. Despite not being involved in any political ideology or movement, he suddenly became a victim of a cruel incident. Around five in the afternoon, the police fired on the protesters in front of Azampur Police Station. A bullet hit Bakul Mia in the head.
Locals quickly took the bullet-ridden Bakul Mia to a nearby hospital. But as his condition deteriorated, doctors transferred him to Green Specialized Hospital. He continued to receive treatment there. Another day dawned. July 19, 2024. Bakul Mia's condition did not improve. Instead, his condition worsened as time passed. Eventually, as the afternoon passed and it reached 3:38 PM, all efforts failed, and Bakul Mia departed from this worldly stage.
The Struggling Bakul Mia:
The life of Martyr Mohammad Bakul Mia was a symbol of a struggling and ordinary person who fought till the last moment of his life to save his family. He was a dedicated rickshaw puller. In the adverse conditions of life, Bakul Mia earned by pulling a rickshaw in Dhaka so that his family could live a comfortable life. Bakul Mia's death is not just the loss of an innocent rickshaw puller's life; it is a social tragedy that reveals the discrimination and injustice in society.
Bakul Mia's martyrdom plunged his family into an unfathomable sea. He was the sole breadwinner of the family. His earnings supported his wife and two children's living and education. His family has become helpless.
After Bakul Mia's death, his wife and children took shelter in the household of Bakul Mia's two brothers. His two brothers try to run the joint family with difficulty through agricultural work. Their income is already inadequate, and with the added responsibility of Bakul Mia's wife and children, they have fallen into further economic hardship. Although neighbors occasionally provide them with financial assistance, it does not provide a permanent solution.
Shaheed Bakul's incident is not just a personal tragedy; it is a stark picture of the discrimination and poverty in society. A poor rickshaw puller, who faced the harsh realities of life and tried to escape the burden of debt, lost his life. He became a victim of a movement despite not being involved in any political program. His struggling life and tragic death are symbols of deep discrimination and political instability in our society.
This tragic chapter of Shaheed Bakul Mia's life is a great loss not only for his family but for our entire society. Bakul Mia's life clearly shows how difficult and risky the lives of marginalized people in society can be. His sacrifice and struggle should be an inspiration for all of us to eliminate social discrimination. Martyr Bakul Mia's name may fade from the memory of many, but the value of his sacrifice will remain in society for thousands of generations. The story of his life and death will forever remain before us as a profound lesson in our social responsibility and human compassion.
Bakul Mia's Grieving Relatives:
In the words of Martyr Bakul's wife, Monika Begum, "Our family was doing well, but since work decreased after the last Eid, we had to live on loans. As the burden of debt increased, my husband went to Dhaka to pull a rickshaw, but he returned as a corpse."
These words express the inner pain of an innocent wife who has lost all hope of running the household after losing her husband. The education of Bakul's children has now become uncertain. The future of Shuvo and Mitu has been shrouded in darkness. There is no one to bear the cost of their education.
Abdul Mannan, a neighbor of Martyr Bakul, said, "Martyr Bakul has children; their family situation and education are now in a chaotic state. Bakul's father is also very ill, practically bedridden. Their family has no source of income now. In this situation, their financial assistance is very important. If any kind-hearted person or organization comes forward to help them, it will be very beneficial. And we, the locals, want a fair trial for his brutal murder."
Local Chairman Abdul Jalil expressed sympathy for the family after seeing their condition. He said, "Bakul's family is very poor. I promise to bear the education expenses of their children." Although his words are a sign of some sympathy, it is impossible to fill the void created in Bakul's family by his death.
 
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Full Name: Md. Bakul Mia
Date of Birth: 05.02.1989
Place of Birth: Chaulia, Sherpur
Date of Martyrdom: July 19, 2024, 3:38 PM
Place of Martyrdom: Green Specialized Hospital, Dhaka
Date and Place of Injury: 18.07.2024; Azampur, Uttara, Dhaka
Type of Injury: Gunshot wound
Perpetrator: Police
Burial Place: His village
Profession: Rickshaw puller
Workplace: Dhaka
Father: Md. Shamsul Haque
Mother: Late Efatunnesa
Permanent Address: Village: Chaulia, Union: Garjaripa, Thana: Sreebardi, District: Sherpur
Wife and Children: Wife Monika Begum, Housewife, 1 son Mahadi Hasan Shuvo, age 12, Hifz student, 1 daughter Nusrat Jahan Mitu, age 6, 1st grade student.
Proposals for Assistance to the Martyr's Family:
• Regular financial assistance is needed.
• The cost of raising and educating the orphan children to be provided.
• An employment arrangement for the wife is needed.