Shahriar Hossain Rokon

Shaheed Shahriar Hossain Rokon made his name in the pages of history by giving his life in the July Revolution movement. His name will be written in golden letters in the pages of history. He was unwavering against injustice. He never compromised on the question of honesty and justice. Due to poverty, he worked as a delivery boy but was never involved in any illegal work. He took honesty as the goal of life. He was a symbol of ideals to his neighbors. He never spoke harshly to anyone. He used to live in harmony with everyone. He would run to help if he saw someone in danger.
How He Wore the Garland of Martyrdom
The Awami League came to power in 2008 through a questionable election. Sheikh Hasina became the head of government as the head of the party. As soon as he came to power, he started various anarchies. He caused the Pilkhana tragedy through the BDR rebellion. Where 57 sharp army officers were killed.
In 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam gathered at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel with 13-point demands. Numerous Hefazat activists were indiscriminately shot and killed like birds. The bodies were secretly dumped in the dead of night to cover up the incident. Then, in the Safe Road Demand movement, the cadres of the Awami government's ally Chhatra League carried out terrorist attacks on general students. Under the umbrella of the government, the Chhatra League became reckless day by day.
Killing people was a child's play for autocrat Sheikh Hasina. To suppress the opposition party, he carried out disappearances, murders, arrests, and suppression. He imprisoned numerous innocent people in the mirror room and subjected them to inhuman torture.
Not only that, but he also created an unstable environment in the country through bank robbery, money laundering, corruption, bribery, extortion, terrorism, etc. To meet the government's additional expenditure, he imposed excessive taxes on the people. The rise in commodity prices made the lives of ordinary people miserable. Low-income people became frustrated after failing to bear the family expenses. If anyone tried to protest, their throat was choked. All avenues of criticism were closed by suppressing the people's freedom of speech.
To perpetuate power, he amended the constitution and abolished the caretaker government system. All arrangements were made to consolidate power through two farcical elections in a row. Discrimination became extreme in every sector. Talented people were undervalued through the quota system in government jobs. Party workers were illegally appointed to various government jobs.
Students and the public could not accept these injustices and discriminations. In 2018, students and the public started the quota reform movement. There too, the Chhatra League attacked. Although the government said that the quota system would be abolished by executive order to control the movement, it was not implemented. That's why the student public started the movement again in 2024. The long-standing anger in the minds of the people burst out in this movement. Common people also joined the students against discrimination. The relentless movement continued.
On July 13, students and the public came to Shahbag with a procession. There, the police put up barriers. The students and the public broke the police barricade and moved forward. The continuous movement continued. On the night of the 14th, in a press conference, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the students and the public "children of Razakars." Anger spread across the country in an instant. Students and the public started chanting slogans, "Who are you, who am I? Razakar, Razakar."
The next day, on the 15th, students and the public took a stand in front of the Raju sculpture of Dhaka University to protest the Prime Minister's statement. On the other hand, after getting provoked by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Chhatra League completed all preparations to attack the general students with sticks, machetes, hockey sticks, stamps, iron rods, and indigenous weapons. When the students were rallying, they suddenly pounced on the students and the public. Just as the Pakistani invading forces attacked the sleeping people of Dhaka on March 25, 1971, Chhatra League also attacked the students and the public. They took positions at various intersections and beat and injured the general students. Their innocent sisters were not spared from their hands. Many people's heads were split open and blood came out. Many people's hands and feet were broken. Still, they did not stop. They did not hesitate to lay hands on girls. Hundreds of students were admitted to Dhaka Medical Hospital in injured condition. Chhatra League went to the hospital and tortured the admitted injured students. Even those who fled in fear of Chhatra League were not spared from torture.
On the 16th, protest marches were held across the country to protest the attack on general students on the 15th. On this day, Shaheed Abu Sayeed offered his chest in front of the assassin's bullet. Abu Sayeed's body was riddled with police bullets. Abu Sayeed's death made the whole country cry. On the 18th, students and the public announced a complete shutdown. On that day, Dhaka city turned into a battlefield. There were repeated clashes between students and the public, police, Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League. Tear gas, rubber bullets, and grenades were thrown at the students and the public. The city of Dhaka shook with the sound of grenades. Hundreds of students were injured. They were admitted to various hospitals in Dhaka. Many others were killed.
Police conducted a sweeping operation across the country. Conducting a comb operation, police brought innocent students from various student dormitories in Dhaka and subjected them to inhuman torture. The conscience of the common people cried seeing these scenes. No one could sit at home. Everyone joined the movement from their respective places. Some came forward to help the students with water, food, and shelter.
On July 19, at 10 am, Shaheed Shahriar Hossain left home and joined the movement. The situation started to heat up from the morning. The autocratic police force became desperate to resist the movement with armored vehicles and modern weapons. From the morning, clashes spread to Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur areas of the capital. The clashes between the police and the protesters started from the morning and continued till three in the afternoon.
Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and sound grenades to disperse the protesters. Students and the public tried to resist the police by throwing brickbats. But the student public could not survive there when the police force fired indiscriminately. Eyes started burning with the smoke of tear gas. One after another, general students were shot and fell face down on the road. Many became senseless. Hundreds were injured. Within moments, the Mohammadpur area turned into a death trap. In such a terrible situation, Shaheed Shahriar Hossain started the work of rescuing the bullet-ridden people and sending them to the hospital, risking his life. It was not possible to survive the indiscriminate firing of the police. When he was busy with rescue work, many pellets hit his body. The person who was busy rescuing others till then fell to the ground. Students rescued him and took him to Momtaz Hospital. Doctors could not do anything there. Then he was sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. On the way to the hospital, around 12 noon, he gave up the illusion of life and passed away. A shadow of mourning descended on the family at his death. His loving mother burst into tears. His father said in a tearful voice, "My son will never come back."
Burial: His funeral prayers were held around 4 pm. He was buried in Rayer Bazar graveyard.
Feelings of Close Relatives about the Martyr
Both parents are almost insane after losing their child. The mother's feelings are beyond expression.
Family Situation
Shaheed Shahriar Hossain Rokon had 3 brothers. His father is a day laborer and his mother works a small job. Younger brothers Tamjidul Islam and Sanjid. Tamjidul Islam is learning carpentry and Sanjid is studying in the 4th grade. They do not have their own house. So, they have to live in a rented house. A lot of money went for rent. The family mainly survived on Shaheed Shahriar's income. His death has put the family in a critical situation.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name : Shahriar Hossain Rokon
Occupation : Delivery Boy
Date of Birth : 27/01/2001
Place of Birth : Mohammadpur, Dhaka
Father : Md. Monir Hossain
Mother : Rabeya Begum
Date of Injury : July 19, 2024, 11:30 AM
Place : Mayur Villa Road, Mohammadpur Road
Date of Martyrdom : July 19, 2024, on the way to Suhrawardy Hospital
Burial : Rayer Bazar, Dhaka