Tahmid Abdullah Ayon

Tahmid Abdullah Ayon was born on April 17, 2003, to the late Abul Hossain and Mosa: Tanzil Akter, illuminating their home. Among three siblings, Tahmid was the eldest. His two younger sisters, Fatema Tasnim (15) and Khadija Nusrat (9), are students at a madrasa. Tahmid’s father, Abul Hossain (aged 46), served as a scorer for the Bangladesh National Cricket Board. He passed away in July 2020 from heart disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the death of their father four years ago, Tahmid’s mother has been awaiting the completion of his education.
Education
Tahmid Abdullah Ayon’s schooling took place at Shahid Police Smriti School and College, located in Mirpur-14 area of the capital city. Overcoming all difficulties, Tahmid successfully completed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in 2019 from the Science stream and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) in the same stream in 2021. Subsequently, he enrolled in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT), situated in Rupnagar Residential Area, Mirpur-02. He aspired to become an engineer and bring honor to the country. Although his dream was fulfilled, this determined young man sacrificed his life in the face of tyranny to help build a new Bangladesh. Tahmid was a student of the CSE Batch 51 and had just completed his third semester. After his martyrdom, the university authorities named a building on campus in his honor, ensuring that his memory endures.
Affectionate and Friendly Nature
From childhood, Tahmid was innocent and friendly by nature. He had a great love for animals and birds. Cats were his most cherished pets. Before his martyrdom, Tahmid cared for two cats, affectionately named Brownie Baby and Tiger. Even after his death, these two cats mourn him deeply, often sniffing his neatly kept pants and shedding tears.
Steadfast on the Path of Justice
Tahmid was shot on August 5, 2024, during the victory procession following the downfall of the oppressive Hasina government. He had been an outspoken participant from the beginning of the mass uprising of the 24th. This fearless warrior joined the protests alongside his university peers. Neither his mother’s admonitions nor the brutal baton charges and pellet gun attacks by the repressive police could deter him. His mother was deeply worried for his safety. One day, when leaving home, the young freedom fighter even tried to persuade his mother to join the movement, saying, “Mother, you too, come to the movement.” His compassionate mother, Tanzil Akter, replied, “Your father is no more. If we both die, who will take care of your sisters?” To which Tahmid responded, “Allah will look after them, you come.” When she refused, he became upset and said, “Mother, you never protest against injustice, nor do you let me do so.”
How Tahmid Joined the Ranks of Martyrs
During the anti-discrimination movement, repeated clashes occurred between students and the murderous police and local mercenary Awami League activists in Mirpur, the capital. On July 19 and 20, 2024, Mirpur turned into a battlefield. In Tahmid’s neighborhood, the mercenary police forces enveloped the entire street in darkness with tear gas smoke.
August's Dual Testimony:
Chronology of Events - Part 1:
On August 4, 2024, Tahmid Abdullah Ayon sustained injuries to his leg from rubber bullets fired by the police. He returned home with a bandaged foot. When he attempted to stand up from his bed and winced in pain, his mother realized he had been injured. Upon her inquiry, he disclosed that rubber bullets had struck his leg but had already been removed at a local clinic. His mother shared, “One day, he was severely beaten by the police with batons, yet he never told me anything.”
Chronology of Events - Part 2:
On August 5, 2024, at around 3 PM, Tahmid joined a celebratory procession with his friends in the Mirpur area, marking the fall of the authoritarian Hasina regime. Without warning, the pro-government police opened fire on the rally. When shots were fired from Mirpur Model Police Station, Tahmid became separated from his friends. As the gunfire intensified, he took shelter behind an electric pole. When the shooting momentarily ceased, he attempted to rise, at which point a sniper's bullet pierced his chest on both the left and right sides.
A passerby rescued him from the street and transported him to a nearby clinic. However, due to the absence of an ICU, the clinic referred him to another hospital. He was then taken to Kurmitola General Hospital. When his friends failed to locate him and tried calling his phone, the rescuer answered and said, “Please come to the hospital immediately and arrange for blood.”
As Tahmid’s condition worsened, he was transferred at 6 PM to the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH). There, doctors attempted to remove the bullet from his lungs via surgery. Despite their efforts, his condition did not improve. He was subsequently moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 2:30 AM. He remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for four days. On August 10, 2024, at 1:15 PM, Tahmid Abdullah Ayon, a valiant warrior of the new awakening, embraced martyrdom while under medical care.
Statements from Close Associates:
Hajera Chowdhury, a neighbor of the martyr, said, “I have witnessed many memories from Tahmid’s birth to his youth. Like his father, if asked a question, he would first respond with a broad smile before speaking.”
His friend, Imtiaz Ahmed, expressed his grief: “I still cannot believe that you are no longer with us, my friend. May Allah grant you the highest place in Jannah. Everyone, please pray for the forgiveness of his soul.”
Statement from Tahmid’s Mother, Tanzila Akhter:
“After the death of my husband, my life became severely unsettled. Despite the hardship, I tried to remain strong for my children. Tahmid had a very friendly relationship with his father. After his father's sudden death, he became even more responsible towards the family. He always felt the urgency to complete his studies and support the household. We are raising our children amid severe financial hardship. I often wonder—if only he had not been shot that day after the movement ended, what could have happened? Despite all his struggles, my son couldn’t even celebrate the victory. That afternoon, I had cooked mashed potatoes, red spinach, and a traditional dish with mung beans and fried rice. He ate a bit of rice with the red spinach and said, ‘Ma, I’ll eat the rest after I come back.’”
Family and Financial Background:
The ancestral home of the late martyr’s father is situated in Block H of Mirpur-2, Dhaka. It is an old single-storey house located between two rows of modern multi-storey buildings lining a wide alley. As the only child of his parents, the property came under the family's ownership. The house, with an iron gate and a narrow yard, consists of seven rooms—two of which are occupied by his mother and sisters, while the remaining five are rented out. Presently, the bereaved family of Tanzila Akhter, having lost both husband and son, relies on this rental income for their livelihood.
Media Coverage:
1. https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/a3xuj0d9ci
2. https://bonikbarta.com/bangladesh/D8XAA1WLiaQH3jzG
At a Glance: Information Regarding the Martyred
Name: Tahmid Abdullah Ayon
Profession: Student
Institution: Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT)
Department: Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
Intake: 51, Semester: Third
Date of Birth: 17 April 2003
Age: 21 years
Current & Permanent Address: Mohalla: Mirpur 02, Block: H, Thana: Mirpur, District: Dhaka
Father: Late Abul Hossain (Age 46), Profession (during lifetime): Scorer, Bangladesh National Cricket Board
Mother: Tanzila Akhter, Profession: Homemaker
Sisters:
1. Ms. Fatema Tasnim, Age: 15, Student, Institution: Madrasa
2. Ms. Khadija Nusrat, Age: 9, Student, Institution: Madrasa
Assets: A dilapidated one-storey ancestral house comprising seven rooms
Monthly Family Income: BDT 15,000 (source: house rent)
Time of Injury: 5 August 2024, approximately 3:00 PM
Place of Incident: Adjacent to Mirpur-02 Police Station, Dhaka
Perpetrators: Police
Nature of Injuries: Three bullet wounds to the chest; two bullets pierced through the lungs, while one remained lodged
Attacking Force: Police personnel of Mirpur Police Station
Hospitals Where Treatment Was Received:
1. Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka
2. National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), Dhaka
3. Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH)
Date, Time & Place of Martyrdom: 10 August 2024, at 1:15 PM, ICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital
Current Location of the Martyr’s Grave: Mirpur, Dhaka
Recommendations:
1. Educational expenses of the two younger sisters may be borne by the state or a benevolent organization.
2. The dilapidated ancestral house could be renovated or reconstructed.
3. The family may be provided with monthly financial assistance or a one-time monetary grant.