Shaheed Ridwan Sharif Riad (Joy)

“Conquer the fear of death
Death-conquering hero Shaheed Joy”
The beloved youngest child of his parents. His name is Ridwan Sharif Riad (Joy). He seems to have fulfilled the name given by his parents through his own activities. This short-lived hero was born on August 22, 2004. Although his ancestral home is in Sreerampur village under Badalgachhi in Naogaon district, he grew up in the Turag (Kamarpada) area of Tongi. Joy's joint family consists of two siblings, parents, and an only nephew. His sister, Shahnaz Ahmed, teaches in schools, and her husband works overseas in Qatar.
Ahmed Ullah Badal, Shaheed Joy's father works as an electrician. Rupali Akhter Beauty, his mother, is a homemaker. In addition, she works as a seamstress to support the family. Shaheed Joy completed his HSC at Bangabandhu College and his SSC at Kamarpada High School. He was thereafter admitted into Tongi Government College's first year of honors in English literature. In his personal life, Shaheed Joy was a religious and realistic person. He was accustomed to doing his own work at a young age and served his mother. Shaheed Joy was accustomed to practice austerity from his childhood; he never demanded more than he needed. He avoided personal enjoyment thinking of it as a waste of money. He also participated in the Quran recitation competition of the Islamic Foundation and received award.
Description of the overall incident
Beginning in the first week of July 2024, the anti-discrimination student-led movement progressively gained prominence. People of various ages, including farmers, laborers, hawkers, and job holders, attended the nationwide protest with the anti-discrimination students. As the movement gained momentum with the participation of people from all walks of life, the autocrat's torture became sereve against the students and the public. The students and the public were attacked with fresh bullets, tear shells, rubber bullets, etc. of the joint attack of the police-RAB-BGB, and terrorist forces of the ruling party. The agitators spontaneously intensified the protest, ignoring the state repression. In that context, Shaheed Joy joined the student-public movement in the House Building area of Uttara Sector-7, near Bangladesh Medical College Hospital.
On Friday, July 19, 2024, a nationwide 'complete shutdown' was observed under the leadership of the anti-discrimination student movement. Shaheed Ridwan Joy left home around 3 pm on July 19, 2024 to participate in the movement. His mother gave him some money to donate to the mosque. Shaheed Joy did not donate the money to the mosque but bought some necessary medicines and distributed them among the students. Because the previous day, Thursday, July 18, many students had been injured in this area, and they badly needed immediate first aid. But due to the lack of necessary medicines and bandage gauze beforehand, many of the injured faced various crises.
Anyway, Shaheed Joy was stationed in front of Bangladesh Medical College. At that time, the joint attack of the armed terrorist forces of the police, Chhatra League and Jubo League was gradually increasing. The brave warrior Shaheed Ridwan Joy tried to provide first aid to the injured and send them to Bangladesh Medical College Hospital. At the same time, he was engaged in guarding the bags of the fellow students. When he entered Bangladesh Medical College to offer Asr prayers in the afternoon, it was not possible due to the adverse situation. His last conversation with his mother on mobile phone took place at 5:30 pm.
In the course of the incident, when former Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Jahangir Alam advanced with his party's armed terrorist followers, firing at the scene, the students and the public tried to resist them. Jahangir Alam's terrorist group was defeated at the scene. However, many were injured and killed in their indiscriminate shooting. Amidst the simultaneous chase and counter-chase, due to the suddenness of the incident, at around 8:30 pm, a bullet from a terrorist hit Ridwan Joy in the back of the head. His friend was also shot in the stomach. Although the injured friend survived, Ridwan Joy was martyred on the spot. The on-duty doctor declared him dead when he was taken to the nearby Bangladesh Medical College Hospital. The martyr's parents arrived at the scene upon receiving this news and collected the body from the hospital. Despite the massive threats and pressure from the administration and the local Awami League leaders, the funeral of Shaheed Joy was held the next morning and he was buried next to Shaheed Mugdha in the Kamarpara graveyard.
Expressions of relatives and comrades:
It is learned from the statement of a close relative that Shaheed Joy was free from all kinds of bad habits from his teenage years. Honesty and self-restraint were his two notable qualities. He observed all the fasts in Ramadan and also received awards in the Quran recitation competition of the Islamic Foundation.
Neighbor's feelings:
Achal (neighbor's child) and Joy grew up together. Even though he was a teenager, but Joy was polite and gentle. May Allah grant him paradise.
Friends' feelings:
The graves of Shaheed Mugdha and Joy are located side by side. Although Shaheed Mugdha is relevant in the discussion of national politics, Shaheed Joy is not discussed as much. Shaheed Joy's discussion and recognition are needed. Because, if there is a war in the country again, Shaheed Joy would go to war again.
Martyr's own dream
Shaheed Joy had a dream of establishing an orphanage. He had a desire to establish a mosque and also to build a road in his village.
Personal Information of the Shaheed at a Glance
Name of the Martyr : Ridwan Sharif Riad (Joy)
Date of Birth : 22/08/2004
Place of Birth : Village: Srirampur, Upazila: Badalgachi, District: Naogaon
Current Address : House: Bari/27, Road: 05, Block-B, Rajabari
Thana : Turag (Kamarpara), District: Dhaka
Father's Name : Ahmad Ullah Badal
Father's Occupation & Age : Electrician, 60 years
Monthly Income : 30,000 BDT
Mother's Name : Rupali Akter Beauty
Mother's Occupation & Age : Homemaker, 45 years
Sister's Name : Shahnaz Ahmed
Sister's Occupation : School Teacher
Incident Location : Bangladesh Medical College, House Building, Uttara, Dhaka
Assailant : Terrorist group of the autocratic Jubo League
Time of Injury : 8:30 PM, 19 July 2024
Date, Time & Place of Death : 19 July 2024, Bangladesh Medical College, House Building, Uttara
Burial Location : Kamarpara, Dhaka
Proposal : To establish a business for the martyr's father.