Md. Sumon Sikder

In the history of Bengal, during the anti-discrimination mass student movement of the 21st century, Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder, a day laborer, honest, and hardworking, who was martyred by the bullets of the killer police, the loyal force of the autocratic ruler Hasina, was born on March 1, 1993, in a helpless and poor family in Kabai Union, Bakerganj Upazila, Barisal. His profession was that of a day laborer and worker, sometimes an indifferent hawker. As a result, poverty always clung to him like a leech. To provide two meals for his family, he, along with day labor, sold consumer goods to customers in neighborhoods as per demand, barely managing his livelihood.
In the mass uprising that spread across 62,000 square miles, day laborer Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder was one such person who, ignoring the glittering and tempting materials of this earth, sacrificed his life during the historic August Revolution, leaving his signature in the line of martyrs, presenting himself as a source of inspiration for the young, youth, and working-class human society of the next generation. Democratic countries around the world, such as America, Britain, Japan, and Canada, as well as the United Nations, have already recognized this movement of students and citizens as a mass uprising.
Day laborer Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder, burdened with poverty, always had a dream of leading a simple life. Above all, he prioritized honesty, integrity, halal income, and an anti-discrimination mentality. In that context, leaving behind the illusion of his village, Kabai Union, Bakerganj Upazila, Barisal, this illiterate person moved to Dhaka to provide financial support to his family members. Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder was honest and hardworking in his professional life.
Among those who were martyred in the mass uprising on August 5, 2024, Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder was one such person whose positive qualities will remain a source of inspiration for the next generation. Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder, with the aim of holding up their life-torch to the next generation, composed the desire for martyrdom. His heart-touching desire for martyrdom, being appreciated as a role model for the youth in the global arena, will be able to create a significant response in the hearts of the emerging youth in anti-discrimination activities.
The sole guardian of the family, Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder, was the middle of three brothers. He was born into a lower-middle-class family and was a soft-spoken and humane person. The other members of the three-member family were Sohagh Sikder (34), Shamim Sikder (22), and the only dependent and innocent child of Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder, Alif Sikder, who was only 22 months old.
Sumon Sikder left school after completing only the 8th grade and moved to Badda, Dhaka, in search of a livelihood to take on the responsibility of his family. Due to family financial difficulties, he tried to support his family by working as a day laborer to earn money. He worked as a day laborer in various places in Dhaka for 3-4 years. He lived with his family in a rented house in Badda, Dhaka, barely managing his life. He was like a banyan tree to his family.
When the anti-discrimination mass student movement started in the country, and the people, oppressed by the 15-year autocratic and fascist killer Hasina's suppression of voice, misuse of law, rising commodity prices, extrajudicial killings, opaque judicial proceedings, and ultimately everything, became vocal in protest, Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder's heart became rebellious.
Like many unknown people in the anti-discrimination student movement, Martyr Sumon also engaged himself by providing services with simple dry food, liquid water, etc. At such a time, Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder was martyred by the sound grenades and bullets of the killer police, who were led astray by the illegal fascist and killer Hasina's autocratic rule, in front of Fuji Tower at the Progoti Sarani intersection in Badda, which was very tragic. He had to breathe his last in the fertile, green, and golden Bengal, leaving behind his wife and 22-month-old daughter.
Description of the Overall Incident
On Monday, August 5, 2024, at 12:00 PM, Martyr Sumon left his rented house in Badda, Dhaka, to earn money. At that moment, the anti-discrimination student-citizen mass movement was ongoing in all the alleys and lanes of Dhaka city. Seeing the protesting students on the road, he stood by them. He tried to help in various ways. At that very moment, Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder was shot dead by the killer police, the loyal force of the autocrat. Later, when taken to the hospital, the doctors on duty declared him dead.
When the family of day laborer Martyr Md. Sumon Sikder, who had lost their only agricultural land due to natural disasters and river erosion and moved to the city, was completely devastated facing the existing discrimination and economic problems of the society, his death news appeared as a disaster for the entire family. This tragic end of a day laborer further highlights the inequality and discrimination in society.
Martyr's Personal Information at a Glance
Name : Md. Sumon Sikder
Date of Birth : 01-03-1993
Father : Md. Yusuf Sikder
Mother : Masuma Begum
Permanent Address : Village: Kabai, Union: Kabai, Thana: Bakerganj, District: Barisal
Child : Alif Sikder
Profession : Laborer
Place of Incident : In front of Fuji Tower, Progoti Sarani, Badda
Time of Injury : 12:00 PM
Time of Martyrdom : 12:00 PM
Type of Injury : Bullet wound in the chest
Assailant : Killer police and the terrorist student organization Chhatra League
of the killer Hasina government
Current Location of Martyr's Grave : His village, Kabai