Md. Sofikul Islam

Martyr Md. Sofikul Islam was born on February 5, 1970, in Shimulghar village, Madhabpur police station, Habiganj district. From childhood, he was more commonly known as Shamim. His father’s name was Sheikh Lal Mia and his mother’s name was Hamida Khatun. He was born and raised entirely in his native district of Habiganj. He grew up struggling against poverty. Driven by the need to earn a livelihood, he migrated to Dhaka city. There, he managed a small business in Old Dhaka to support his family. He had been striving to survive the hardships of life for many years. Last year, he relocated to Savar and started a business selling sherbet. He rented a house there with several other small businessmen.
Details of the Incident
A new revolution emerged in independent Bangladesh centered around the anti-discrimination student movement. The independent country had to be re-liberated from the clutches of a fascist government. Through four consecutive fraudulent elections, the Awami League government seized power — a regime responsible for the largest-scale plundering in the country’s history, smuggling billions of taka abroad, and brutally suppressing opposition by enforced disappearances and killings of numerous political leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens to maintain their power and silence freedom of speech. Many respected scholars, clerics, and prominent personalities were detained for years on false charges and tortured. Under the protection of this regime, the student wing known as the Chhatra League operated as a gang of hooligans wreaking havoc nationwide. Thus, fundamental human rights and freedom of speech were forcefully taken away, and there was no security for life even in one’s own country.
Despite several protests, the authoritarian government used its power to prevent their intensification. On June 5, 2024, following the High Court’s declaration that the freedom fighter quota was illegal, the movement began. It later evolved into a broader anti-discrimination student movement.
Between July 16 and 18, over one hundred students and citizens were killed. As a result, the movement expanded beyond students and became a mass uprising. Among the main centers of this movement was Savar. Although a general holiday had been declared for several days, ordinary working people had to go out in search of work to feed their families. Martyr Shamim was one such hardworking individual.
On July 20 at around 4 PM, as he left his home, Shamim along with several others came under police gunfire. Like the others, he tried to flee. While the others managed to escape by running, Shamim was shot multiple times in the neck, face, and abdomen. Due to severe bleeding, he died before being taken to the hospital. Later that night, his relatives rented a mini truck to bring his body home. His funeral prayer and burial took place in his native village the next day, July 21, at 11 AM. Eyewitnesses reported that Shamim’s body bore numerous gunshot wounds, as if his body had been shredded.
Statement from the Martyr’s Wife
Overwhelmed with grief, Shamim’s wife, the impoverished Pyara Begum, softly voiced her demand for justice for her husband’s murder:
“No one in Bangladesh has inquired about us except Jamaat-e-Islami. I have no one left in this world.”
Family Financial Status
Martyr Shamim’s financial condition was extremely distressing. They owned no house or agricultural land. He barely managed to support his family through a small business in Dhaka. He lived in a small shared hut with several businessmen. He was the sole earner in the family. Since his death, his dependents have been living in helpless poverty.
Summary of Martyr’s Identity
Name: Sheikh Md. Sofikul Islam
Father: Sheikh Lal Mia
Mother: Hamida Khatun
Village: Shimulghar
Post Office: Chatiain
Police Station: Madhabpur
District: Habiganj
Place and Date of Injury: Savar, 20/07/2024
Attacker: Police
Place of Death: Savar, 20/07/2024
Burial Site: Native Village
Proposal for Assistance to Martyr’s Family:
1. Provision of housing
2. Arrangement for permanent income