Kazi Ashraf Ahmed Riaz

Kazi Ashraf Ahmed Riaz was the eldest son of businessman Kazi Babul and Rokeya Akter from Bagra village, Nangalkot, Cumilla District. He studied at Dhaka Commerce College and also pursued photography at Pathshala University. He was a traveler, an excellent photographer, and a poet.
Kazi Ashraf Ahmed Riaz's Poetic Talent
A poem he wrote some time ago created a huge sensation!
His writing began like this:
"I actually wanted to be
a metro station
whose destruction cannot hold back tears!
"But you sent me as a student,
whose death doesn't bring tears,
whose blood doesn't cause a loss of crores of taka,
whose death no one comes to see,
whose name doesn't come in the list of state losses,
whose corpse is merely a number in the morgue...
Yet 'I wanted to be so much!'"
Just 4 days ago, he shared another fiery poem on his wall;
In this city, birds wake up to the sound of gunfire
In this city, students lie with brains filled with the smell of gunpowder
Vulture bullets are tearing apart brains
UN peacekeepers are floating in a blood inferno
Who are the fascists? Who is the autocrat?
Who stays indoors fearing vultures?
Mother's cry of agony-
Why did you kill my son?
Meanwhile, his Facebook wall, which used to be filled with glimpses of soft, tender female bodies and the natural beauty of Bengal, was now filled with the tumultuous, blood-soaked images of students protesting the quota movement. Every picture will surely find its place in the pages of future history.
Description of the Incident
This student was active on the streets and social media from the beginning of the anti-discrimination movement. He led the movement from the front. Alongside his studies at Dhaka Commerce College, he studied photography at Pathshala University.
Many images of the torture during the anti-discrimination movement were uploaded to his Facebook page. Riaz captured various moments of the movement with his camera. Meanwhile, his Facebook wall was filled with the tumultuous, blood-soaked images of students protesting the quota movement. Every picture will surely find its place in the pages of future history. Since then, he was reportedly going through extreme mental anguish. On the night of his final departure, he called his father in the evening and said, "I have no money in my pocket—I want to eat a coconut, send me some money." His father immediately sent him money through bKash. No matter how busy he was, he would always answer his parents' calls. After that, Riaz didn't answer the phone. Riaz captured various moments of the movement with his camera. There are many rumors surrounding Riaz's death, and the mystery has not been cleared.
Locals say that due to the very bad situation in the country, he could not be treated. However, those who bathed the body found signs of beatings on Riaz's face. They found multiple bullet marks on his back. Riaz was primarily injured by police bullets during the movement.
Funeral and Burial
Due to the label of being an anti-government movement, Kazi Ashraf Ahmed Riaz's funeral was held quietly on August 1st. After the funeral, Riaz's body was buried in the family graveyard.
Family Condition
Shaheed Riaz was a professional photographer, and his father, Kazi Babul, was an ordinary businessman in the village. Alongside his father, he also tried to provide financial support to the family. With the absence of Shaheed Riaz, his father has become mentally broken. He cannot concentrate on his business properly, so the business is also not doing well. Currently, it has become impossible for him to cover all the household expenses alone. His family is now living an inhumane life.
Shaheed Family Demands Justice for the Murder
Riaz's mother, Rokeya Akter, said, "My son used to say, 'Mom, as soon as I go out, they will kill me.' My son was a professional photographer. Despite receiving many threats, he continued his work and did not stop. He participated in the movement in various ways. I demand justice for those who killed my son."
Locals say that due to the very bad situation in the country, he could not be treated. However, those who bathed the body found signs of beatings on Riaz's face. They found multiple bullet marks on his back. They also said that Riaz was very active in the movement with the students, as well as in the role of journalism through photography. They allege that perhaps this is why he had to die.
Many others like Riaz have lost their lives in the student-people's uprising. Ordinary people and locals have demanded that all of them be found and a list be made.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name : Kazi Ashraf Ahmed Riaz
Profession : Photographer
Permanent Address : Village: Bagra, Union: Boxganj, Thana: Nangalkot, District: Cumilla
Father : Kazi Babul
Mother : Rokeya Akter
Attacker : Police
Time of Injury : July 30, 2024,
Date and Time of Death : July 30, 2024, approximately 10 pm
Current Location of
the Martyr's Grave : Family graveyard.
Proposal
Arrange regular monthly allowance for the martyr's family.