Al Amin Islam

Md. Abdur Razzak Rubel was a courageous young man from the Debidwar area. According to his wife, Happy Akhter, Rubel was the only son of his parents. Following his father’s death, he took responsibility for the family. He worked as a driver to support his wife, child, and mother. Rubel and his wife, Happy, have a six-year-old daughter named Noufa. At the time of the movement, his wife Happy Akhter was nine months pregnant.
During the anti-discrimination student-public movement, Abdur Razzak Rubel, a leader of the Upazila Volunteer Group, was fatally shot on August 4 in Debidwar, Cumilla. Saiful Islam, Secretary of the North Cumilla District unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, stated,
"The martyrdom of Rubel has not been in vain. His sacrifice has led to the downfall of the tyrant Hasina."
Profile of the Martyr
Md. Al Amin Islam was born on February 1, 1999, in the Dinajpur district. His father's name is Md. Wazed Ali, and his mother is Selina Khatun. His wife's name is Sumaiya Akter. The couple has one son, who is currently 2 years and 7 months old.
Background of Martyrdom
After 16 years of continuous struggle and activism, a widespread public expectation culminated in a 36-day anti-discrimination movement. The 2024 quota reform movement in Bangladesh was a mass protest demanding reform of the quota-based recruitment system in all categories of government employment. On June 5, 2024, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh declared void the circular issued by the government on October 4, 2018, thereby reigniting the quota reform movement. The 2018 circular had abolished all existing quotas for recruitment in the 9th and 10th–13th grade positions in public service.
Throughout July, peaceful protests led by students against discrimination were met with severe repression, including killings, by the ruling Awami League, its student and youth wings, and state forces. The movement gained momentum, drawing nationwide and international attention. Many expatriates ceased sending remittances in protest. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in collaboration with her longtime allies—leftist political groups—declared a ban on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, and its associated organizations.
Experts, along with the student-public alliance, anticipated that Prime Minister Hasina would resort to a brutal massacre to retain power. Professionals from across Bangladesh vocally opposed the ruling Awami League, recognizing that this might be the final opportunity to remove the autocratic regime. Missing this chance, they feared, would result in a lifetime of subjugation under a pro-Indian puppet government.
Islami Chhatra Shibir integrated with the general public to sustain the nationwide movement, ensuring the protection of student leaders. Al Jazeera journalist Zulkar Nine Sayer, in his coverage of the "July Uprising," praised Shibir’s courageous leadership.
On August 4, student leaders announced a plan to lay siege to the Prime Minister’s residence on August 6. However, Shibir leadership, anticipating a possible massacre on the 5th, advanced the date of the “March for Dhaka” to August 5. Despite brutal state-sponsored repression throughout July, August 4 marked the first organized resistance. Government-backed thugs were forced to retreat under a barrage of bricks hurled by protesters in district and metropolitan areas. This resistance shook the Hasina regime to its core. Due to threats of sanctions from the United Nations, a faction of the military declared they would no longer support the government. On the following day, August 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her corrupt sister Sheikh Rehana reportedly fled the country.
Upon hearing of Hasina’s flight, Md. Al Amin Islam joined the celebrations on the streets, embracing fellow citizens in joy and distributing sweets. Crowds began destroying the extravagant statues and murals of the former dictator Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, built with billions in public funds, as a sign of public contempt. Al Amin, overwhelmed with happiness, witnessed these scenes with disbelief. He was accompanied by his younger brother, Shakil Islam.
As they were passing by the Savar police station, they were caught in indiscriminate police gunfire. In the chaos, Al Amin was separated from his younger brother and sustained bullet wounds. He immediately called his father-in-law to inform him of the injuries. The father-in-law then contacted Al Amin's father, Wazed Ali, who instructed him to rescue Shakil. Bystanders took Al Amin to Enam Medical College Hospital. Later, Shakil found his elder brother's lifeless body there.
Economic Status
Md. Al Amin Islam was employed at a private company in Bangshal. His father, Md. Wazed Ali, is a farmer. His wife, Sumaiya, is currently studying in the 11th grade. The couple has one son, who is 2 years and 7 months old.
At a Glance: Information Regarding the Martyr
Name: Md. Al Amin Islam
Date of Birth: 1 February 1999
Occupation: Private Sector Employee
Father’s Name: Md. Wazed Ali
Mother’s Name: Selina Khatun
Wife’s Name: Sumaiya
Child: Huzaifa (2 years and 7 months old)
Permanent Address: Dabra, Jineshwari, North Side of Master's Intersection, Birganj, Dinajpur
Current Address: Shovapur, Rajfulbari, Rajfulbaria, Savar, Dhaka
Place of Incident: In front of Enam Medical College, Savar
Assailant: Police
Time of Injury: 5 August
Nature of Injury: Gunshot wounds
Date, Time, and Place of Death: 5 August 2024
Burial Site: Dabra Graveyard
Recommendations
1. Provision of monthly and one-time financial allowances