Md. Mahfuzur Rahman

Mahfuzur Rahman was the youngest of his 4 brothers and sisters. He was born in Hortokitola village of Nishan Baria Union of Morolganj Thana under Brahmanbaria district.
Incident Description
On July 19, tenth-grade student Mahfuzur Rahman took to the streets of Mirpur. That day, amid a student protest, law enforcement officers and members of the ruling party suddenly began firing. One of the bullets hit Mahfuzur in the head. He collapsed to the ground instantly. That is where the 15-year-old boy died.
"My son was such a good boy—I’m realizing that more now after his death," said Abdul Mannan, the mournful father, through tears. Mannan, a rickshaw-van driver by profession, was always afraid that his son might fall into the wrong crowd. He constantly worried about his son’s future. But Mahfuz proved those fears wrong.
"My son gave his life to free the people of this country from the grip of a tyrannical government. I want justice for the way they killed my boy," said Mannan.
In their small rented home in Madina Nagar, Mirpur-11, the family spoke about Mahfuz. His mother, Musammat Begum, cried out in grief for her son. She still can’t believe he’s gone. As Mannan recounted the horrifying events of that day, Musammat Begum fainted midway through hearing it. Even after regaining consciousness, she couldn’t accept that her son was no more.
"My heart has been torn apart. My son will never call me ‘Ma’ again."
Mannan and Musammat had three daughters and one son. After the three daughters, came Mahfuz—the youngest. Because of that, he was the apple of his sisters' eyes too.
There were many dreams for Mahfuj in his family. The hope was that he would grow up and one day take care of his poor family. He would join the army, and his parents’ suffering would end. However, that dream was shattered by the bullets of the law enforcement agencies.
"I didn't let him go outside after seeing the situation. I stopped him, but he deceived me and went out. He said, 'Mom, I will come back after Jummah prayer and have lunch with you. Please keep the food ready for me.' He told me, 'Mom, make sure the food is ready, I will come and eat,'" said Mahfuj's mother.
When Mahfuj did not return after the prayer, his father Mannan, son-in-law, and some of Mahfuj's classmates went out to search for him in Mirpur-10. There, they learned from a student that around 4 PM, the police and the ruling party’s people fired on students during their protests, and one bullet hit Mahfuj. In a state of confusion, Mannan and his family searched various hospitals for Mahfuj’s whereabouts that night and the following day.
At around 10:30 AM on July 20, they received the devastating news that their beloved son was no more. A morgue assistant at Shaheed Sohrawardy Medical College identified Mahfuj’s body through a photo on Mannan’s mobile phone. They were informed that his son’s body was in the morgue. Mannan went to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station to request the return of his son’s body. The police informed him that they would release the body on the condition that it must be taken directly to their village home in Morelganj, Bagerhat for burial and not elsewhere. However, the students who had gathered at the hospital in Mirpur took the body to Mirpur for the funeral prayers. There, members of the Awami League and Jubo League blocked the vehicle from entering Madina Nagar. After much pleading, the students were allowed a brief period for the funeral prayers in Mahfuj’s school grounds. With tears in their eyes, they hurriedly bid farewell to their beloved classmate. In the middle of the night, Mahfuj was buried in his village home.
"I was participating in my son's funeral prayer when I received several calls, warning me that the police were planning to arrest me. They advised me to flee for safety," said Mannan. After Mahfuj's death, local leaders of the Awami League and Jubo League pressured their landlord, calling them "collaborators" and urging them to evict the family. Fearing for his safety, Mannan never returned to Dhaka after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country.
"Mahfuj had a strong sense of justice. He always wanted to stay on the path of justice," said his friend, Atik Rahman. Atik added, "Mahfuj joined the protest to stand against injustice. In his memory, we want to name a sports field in our area after him."
Relatives and Classmates' Statements About the Martyr
Mother's Statement: "I will never see my son again. It's been a month, and I am alive, but I can't explain how I am living. It feels like I am a living corpse." The pain and depth of her voice were evident. Only a mother can understand the grief of losing a child. Demanding justice for her son’s death, she said, "Those who took my son's life, Allah will judge them."
Father's Statement: "What crime did my 15-year-old son commit? Why was he shot? The ones who killed my son, Allah will judge them." He added, "My son was in favor of independence. That was his only crime. I seek justice for those who have impoverished my family."
Family Situation of the Martyr
Martyr Mahfuzur Rahman was the only son in his family. He had three older sisters. His father, Abdul Mannan, was an auto-rickshaw driver. He owned some land in the village but had no permanent home. His mother, Mosha Begum, was a housewife. Although Mahfuz’s paternal grandparents lived in the village, it was his father who had to take care of them.
Martyr's Profile at a Glance
Name: Mahfuzur Rahman
Profession: Student
Father: Mr. Abdul Mannan
Mother: Musammat Begum
Date of Martyrdom: July 19, 2024
Place of Gunshot Wound: Mirpur 10 Roundabout
Place of Martyrdom: Mirpur 10 Roundabout
Permanent Address: Village: Hartakitla, Union: Nishan Bariya, Police Station: Morelganj, District: Bagerhat
Current Address: Pallabi, Mirpur 11, Dhaka