Junaid Islam Ratul

Ratul was the son of Ziaur Rahman Zia, a grocery store owner from Sultaniganj Para, Ghonpara in Bogura city. He was a sixth-grade student at Nishindara Upashahar Path Public School and College. On August 5, Ratul participated in a victory procession in the afternoon with his elder sister Jerin and brother-in-law Amir Hamza.
Context of Martyrdom
Sheikh Hasina's rule has gone down in history as a dark chapter in Bangladesh's history. To make her a killer and autocrat, every leader and worker of the Awami League is more or less responsible. During her tenure, honest people were the most oppressed. The education system was completely destroyed to create loyal, sycophantic, inefficient, and Mujibist believers. The exam system was abolished, and students were made accustomed to a free mixing education system. In error-filled books, anti-Islamic chapters were cleverly inserted by Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, the progenitor of atheists. In every book, stories of Sheikh Mujib were used to make students understand that Sheikh Mujib was an angel in this country. Nahid, Dipu Moni, and Mohiuddin's son Nowfel, who were in charge of the Ministry of Education during Hasina's tenure, are considered one of the main architects of the destruction of the education system. Question papers were regularly leaked in every government job recruitment exam, university, and medical college admission exams. Although the conscious public was angry about the dire state of the education system, they could not protest. Protesters were arrested and tortured.
Junaid Islam Ratul was annoyed with the state of the country's education. Having the opportunity to study in madrasas and schools, he understood the reality.
To perpetuate her power, Sheikh Hasina decided to bring back the abolished quota system in 2018. Her intention was to appoint her party's lecherous and terrorist Chhatra League and Indian citizens through fake freedom fighter quotas in government jobs. However, there were about 25 million unemployed people in the country. Students protested. The whole country echoed with protests. In Bogura city, students and people from various schools, colleges, and madrasas took to the streets to demand their rights. Students, who were already angry with the government's misrule, chanted "We Want Justice" at Satmatha intersection on August 2, demanding quota reforms and protesting against nationwide oppression and killings. On August 4, the hated police and terrorist Chhatra League's attack was resisted by the people of the country. When army officers expressed reluctance to use weapons against students, Chief of Army Staff General Wakar gave Awami League leaders and Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana the opportunity to flee abroad. Most of the other Awami League leaders who ordered the genocide were given unjust shelter inside the cantonment.
How He Became a Martyr
After Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister and left the country on August 5, Junaid joined the student-public victory procession with his friends. His sister and brother-in-law were also with him. When the student-public procession tried to go from Bargoala to Satmatha area around four o'clock in the afternoon, police fired shots at the student-public procession in front of Sadar Police Station. Ratul's head and various parts of his body were hit by shotgun bullets fired by the police. Little Ratul was seriously injured. A bullet entered his head through his left eye. Besides, numerous pellets hit various parts of his body. In a bloody and unconscious state, Ratul was first taken to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (Shajimek) Hospital. Doctors referred him to the National Institute of Neurosciences Hospital in Dhaka. There, doctors removed a bullet from his brain. In the X-ray report, doctors found more than a hundred bullets in Ratul's head, eyes, and body. 36 bullets were removed. Then he was kept in the ICU. After some improvement in his condition, Ratul was given a bed in the ward a few days ago. Ratul's father, Ziaur Rahman Zia, said that after being given the ward, Ratul spoke and ate. Suddenly his condition deteriorated around 4 am on Monday. After being treated for 49 days, he passed away around 6 am on September 23. Ratul's first funeral was held at 9 am at Government Mustafabia Alia Madrasa ground. The second funeral was held at Hakir Mor area.
He was laid to rest at Namazganj Anjuman-e-Gorstan in the city on Tuesday. Doctors said that even if Ratul survived, he might lose his eyesight forever. But in the end, Ratul could not survive. Everyone thought that at least Ratul's killers would be arrested and brought to justice. But all the police members involved in that day's killing are still performing their duties in Bogura Police Station.
Relatives' Comments
Friend Mohammad said, "On the morning of August 5, despite his mother's prohibition, Ratul went to the anti-discrimination student movement with his sister Jerin Sultana and brother-in-law Amir Hamza without having breakfast. At one point, they reached near Jhautala, near Bogura Sadar Police Station, with the procession. Then, when the police fired shots at the anti-discrimination procession, Ratul was injured."
Ratul's elder sister Jerin said, "Ratul was right beside me. Suddenly four pellets hit Ratul's head. A bullet entered Ratul's head through his left eye. Then many more bullets hit various parts of his body." Grocery store owner father Ziaur Rahman said, "I sold all my belongings for my son's treatment. But I could not get my son back."
 
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name: Junaid Islam Ratul
Occupation: Student
Date of Birth: 2011
Father: Ziaur Rahman Zia
Mother: Rokeya Begum
Sister: Jerin
Date of Injury and Martyrdom: August 5, 2024, 4:00 PM and September 23, 6:00 AM
Place of Martyrdom: In front of Bogura Police Station
Attacker: Police
Buried at: Anjuman-e-Gorstan, Bogura
Current Address: Ghonpara, Hakir Mor, Bogura
House and Property Condition: House in Bogura. Father became indebted while treating his son.
Proposal
• Assistance in repaying the loan.
• One-time assistance.