Shaheed Farhanul Islam Bhuiyan (Farhan Fayaz)

His name is Farhan Fayaz. Full name Mohammad Farhanul Islam Bhuiyan. Farhan wrote in his Facebook account bio, "One day, we will have to leave this world. Build a life that people remember you after death." Although he said this to everyone, Farhan himself kept his word. He loved his country and did something that the people of Bangladesh will remember. Farhan Fayaz was a residential student at Residential Model College from 3rd to 8th grade. He was supposed to take part in the HSC exam in the science department from Dhaka Residential Model College in 2025. Farhan wanted to do research work, pursue higher education abroad, and return to the country to do something for his country.
How He Became a Martyr:
From 2008, the Awami League government began working against the people. They hanged the revolutionaries who eliminated the autocratic Mujib government. Sheikh Hasina personally slaughtered Bazlul Huda as an act of revenge. At that time, despite having the capability, the BNP did not come forward to save the revolutionaries. Then, with the help of India, 56 army officers and several citizens of Bangladesh were killed in Pilkhana. Sheikh Hasina realized that the obstacle to her power was the Islamist leaders, especially the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. They appointed their own judges and, through them, unjustly accused Jamaat leaders of crimes from 1971 and executed them one by one without proof.
Notably, the Prothom Alo newspaper continuously spread false and fabricated news portraying Jamaat leaders as war criminals. Along with the killing of Jamaat leaders, oppression, imprisonment, disappearances, and murders began against Islamic scholars of all groups except the Charmonai group and the Sunni Islamic group of Chittagong (Islamic Front). Due to the patronage of atheists, a brutal massacre was carried out during the Hefazat-e-Islam movement. Looting, bank robberies, and money laundering abroad started. The people of the country were fed up with the oppression of the Awami League and thought they would not vote for them in the next elections. But the autocratic government snatched away the people's right to vote. This overall mismanagement led to student and public anger. This anger exploded during the July Revolution.
The killer Hasina and her illegal government wanted to perpetuate their power by appointing party workers to jobs. Therefore, they continued the quota system, making it difficult for meritorious individuals to get jobs. Students started an anti-discrimination movement against the quota system. Their peaceful movement was repeatedly thwarted by the controversial, killer, terrorist, and rapist organization, Chhatra League. On July 16, 6 students, including Abu Saeed, were killed in the movement. Chhatra League attacked ordinary students with weapons. On July 17, angry students declared Chhatra League unwelcome from the halls of Dhaka University. They held a coffin procession on the streets. Although the peaceful coffin procession was disrupted by police tear gas, baton charges, and hand grenades. Students called for a complete shutdown across the country. Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League terrorists, along with the police, started a house-to-house arrest operation in the darkness of the night. From July 18, students were not allowed to enter colleges and universities.
On this day, students took positions in front of their respective universities and important intersections on the streets. Hasina's order was terrifying. She ordered to leave dead bodies to suppress the movement. The students thought the police would not do anything to a peaceful gathering. Farhan Fayaz, along with many students from Residential College, was present on the street. On Sheikh Hasina's orders, the police attacked them from 10 am. At 3 pm, it was learned that Farhan Fayaz had been shot in the chest and face. Students tried to take him to the hospital on a rickshaw. He died on the way. He became a martyr. On this day, July 18, about 40 students and citizens were martyred.
How is His Family Doing?
Farhan's mother has fallen ill after losing her only son. She cries whenever she sees Farhan's belongings. Farhan's father says, "My happy family of two children has come to a standstill today. I am now destitute after burying my son's body." Farhan's father, Shahidul Islam, is a businessman. They have their own house in Narayanganj.
Statements from Relatives and Friends:
The father says, "This time, on his son's birthday, September 12, he wanted to drive himself and go on a long drive with his friends. I agreed. Now, my son is gone. I have filed a case for my son's murder. I hope to get justice."
The mother says, "On July 18, my son had breakfast and went out after receiving a friend's phone call. In the afternoon, I received news of my son being shot. I want the harshest punishment for Farhan's killers."
Sister Sayima Islam, a 10th-grade student, says, "I made fish fry. It was my brother's favorite. For whom will I make fish fry for now?"
Fayaz's aunt, Farzana Munmun, said that Fayaz stepped forward to protect several people when the clash started and was shot. She questioned, "The police aimed at the chest of my innocent, unarmed little child and shot him; didn't their hands tremble even a little?"
Classmate Wakif Fahmid says, "I used to do coaching for the class two admission test with Farhan Fayaz. We got admitted to Dhaka Residential Model College together. I was in the day section, and Farhan was in the morning section. We became good friends in 2021. We used to coach together again. We used to hang out before and after coaching. We didn't even realize when it was 8 or 9 pm while chatting."
"Farhan was a bit different in terms of fashion. Each time, his unique style surprised us. From clothes to hair and beard styles, he was different. Sometimes he would come to me and say, “Dear, look, have I become dark?' Because of these things, his nickname among friends became 'Dhola' (fair one). Everyone jokingly called him 'Dhola.' I always noticed a tendency for leadership in him. He was also well-known in various clubs of the college. He was active in co-curricular activities along with studies. I have thousands of memories with him since 2021. Sometimes we even skipped coaching and secretly went out. One night, he forced me to go see the moon. A telescope was brought to the college festival to see the moon. Farhan was a Shechashebok there. I skipped coaching and went with him to see the moon. So many things!
Once, many of us went to see a movie together. We also went to Toggi Fun World in Bashundhara. He used to say, 'Let's go here, let's go there.' So many places were left for us to go!
Farhan had a strong desire to study in a public university. He also used to say that he wanted to go abroad for higher education. He used to discuss studies with me from time to time. He was very humble and polite as a person. He respected seniors and loved juniors. He was quite popular among juniors. He was well-known not only in our college but also in other institutions. A few days ago, he represented our college in a competition of Ten-Minute School.
Our last meeting was on July 15, after the second-year final exam. We went home chatting together that day. On the 16th, I went to the quota reform movement. Farhan wrote 'Proud of you' in the comment box of one of my posts. Who knew that he would make us all 'Proud' and leave."
Complaint Filed:
In the case of the killing of Residential Model College student Farhan Fayaz by police firing during the anti-discrimination student movement on July 18, murder and genocide charges have been filed against Sheikh Hasina and 54 others. On Tuesday (September 10), Farhan's father, Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, filed this complaint with the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal. Other defendants in the case include Awami League General Secretary and former Minister Obaidul Quader, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, General Secretary Wali Asif Inan, and police officer Biplob Kumar, among 54 others.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name: Shaheed Farhanul Islam Bhuiyan (Farhan Fayaz)
Birth: September 12, 2006
Place of Birth: Rupganj, Narayanganj
Institution: Dhaka Residential Model College, 12th Grade, Science Department
Father: Md. Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan
Mother: Mosammat Farhana Diba
Sister: Sayima Islam, Little Flower School, 10th Grade
Martyrdom: July 18