Md. Riaz

Md. Riaz was a student. The youngest of four children from Mahamudul Haque's first wife, Shafia Begum, whose father was a small raw material trader. Riaz was the most beloved of all his brothers. Shaheed Riaz was born on January 12, 2001, in Laxmipur village of Mollar Hat Union, Hizla Thana, Barisal District. Mother Mosammat Shafia Begum raised Shaheed Riaz and her other three children with great difficulty, without her husband's support. Shaheed Riaz was extremely talented and hardworking. He was a final-year degree student at Fuladi Government College, Barisal District. Along with his studies, Shaheed Riaz used to run a small business in Dhaka to support his family financially.
How He Was Martyred
Many people have given their lives at various times to protect the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. However, the victory of the autocratic fall on August 5, 2024, will be remembered forever by the people of Bangladesh for those who shed their fresh blood to achieve this victory. Shaheed Md. Riaz is one of those who gave their lives for the anti-discrimination student-citizen movement or the quota reform movement.
Md. Riaz, a brilliant final-year degree student at Muladi Government College, wanted to establish equal rights for all students in this country. Supporting a merit-based, qualification-based government job recruitment system was Shaheed Riaz's only "crime". Riaz was always at the forefront in demanding the students' just rights. On that day of the movement, August 4, 2024, Riaz and other students were going from City College to Science Lab to join the rally. But to thwart this just rights movement of the students and to maintain their illegal power, the autocratic Awami League government instructed their student organization, affiliated organizations, killer police, RAB, and BGB to attack the general students with various types of domestic lethal weapons and foreign firearms.
Led by Md. Mizan, former president of Dhaka Metropolitan North Chhatra League, a controversial terrorist organization, about 100 armed terrorists fired indiscriminately at the peaceful rally of students and citizens. In such a heated situation, students and citizens ran for safe shelter. Many students and ordinary people fell on the road after being shot. The road was stained with blood. No one was in a position to hear the screams of the injured. It became extremely difficult to rescue the injured at risk. Even then, some people tried to rescue the injured and dead, ignoring the bloodshot eyes of the Awami goons. Shaheed Riaz played a leading role in this.
Even amidst the shooting, Riaz bravely stepped forward and encouraged the general students to maintain their position. Riaz kept telling his friends, "We will die, but we will not back down from this struggle to achieve our just rights." The killers targeted him. At 1:00 PM, a bullet fired from the Awami terrorists' firearms hit Riaz on the left side of his head. At that time, the sound of Zuhr prayer was echoing from the mosques all around.
Riaz's friends admitted him to Dhaka Popular Medical Hospital at risk. Due to the severity of the injury, he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for better treatment on the advice of doctors. There, treatment started under intensive care in the ICU. To meet the treatment expenses, his family started borrowing from various people. At one point, after spending 400,000 taka, the patient's condition started deteriorating.
Finally, after 14 long days, on August 17, 2024, at 3:50 PM, he drank the nectar of martyrdom and left this worldly life. Innallillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. All the students and citizens were saddened by the loss of a bright star of Bangladeshi students. Thousands of people, including his beloved college students, cried with tears in their eyes, saying, "We will not let Shaheed Riaz's dream go in vain."
Shaheed Riaz's Funeral
Riaz was above all parties and opinions. His acceptance was very high to everyone and to all parties. Even then, his funeral prayer was held at the Barisal party office at 8:30 PM with the cooperation of the Nationalist Student Party. Thousands of people shed tears that day. Everyone said in unison that day, "We want justice for the murder of our beloved Riaz."
Mother's Feelings
With tearful eyes, the mother thanked Almighty Allah and said, "O Allah, I am grateful to You for being the mother of such a son. Accept my son's martyrdom. Give justice in this world to those who killed my son."
Third Brother's Comments about Shaheed Riaz
Md. Rasel, the third brother of Shaheed Riaz, said, "Riaz was always with me. We used to play together and sleep together. But after growing up, Riaz went to Dhaka to earn money due to poverty. What a twist of fate! We grew up with a lot of hardship since childhood. Growing up in a lot of poverty, Allah has now made us very comfortable. And my brother Riaz could not enjoy this comfort for long. The Chhatra League terrorists did not let my brother live in this world. He did not do any wrong. He was on the path of truth. He took to the streets for just rights. I want justice for my brother's murder. My demand to the current government is to quickly try and give the maximum punishment of death to those who killed my brother without any crime."
Shaheed Md. Riaz at a Glance
Full Name : Md. Riaz
Father : Mahmudul Haque Rarhi
Mother : Shafia Begum
Date of Birth : 12-01-2001 AD
Place of Birth : Laxmipur, Hizla, Barisal
Marital Status : Unmarried
Father's Profession : Small raw material business
Monthly Income : 10,000/=
Martyr's Mother's Condition : Mosammat Shafia Begum (50), Profession: Housewife
Currently living with three children, including Riaz, a total of 4 brothers
(no sisters) Mother and three brothers lives together in the same family
Brothers' Names and Professional Status:
1. Rezaul Karim (32), Private school teacher, Monthly income: 8000/=
2. Md. Rakibul Islam (30), Job at Opsonin Company, Monthly income 15000/=
3. Md. Rasel (27), Grocery store, Monthly income 7000/=
Permanent Address : Village: Laxmipur, Union: Mollar Hat, Thana: Hizla
District: Barisal. Current Address: Kamrangichar, Section, Dhaka
Party Affiliation : Not active in any party
Last Education : Fuladi Government College, Barisal, Class: Degree Final Year
Date and Time of Attack : 04-08-2024, 1:00 PM
Place of Attack : Jigatala, Science Lab, Dhaka
Assailant : Bangladesh Awami Chhatra League and former Dhaka Metropolitan
North Chhatra League President Md. Mizan and his terrorist associates
Type of Attack : Bullet entered the left side of the head and exited through the back
Date and Time of Martyrdom : 17-08-2024 AD, 3:50 PM
Place of Martyrdom : Dhaka Medical College Hospital
Burial : His own home, Laxmipur, Hizla, Barisal