News Flash
JHALAKATHI, April 17, 2025 (BSS) - Rakib Hawlader, 16, son of Jahangir Hawlader, 48, known affectionately as "Bullet" in his native South Mohishkandi village under Kathalia Upazila, was widely admired for his dedication to prayer, passion for sports, and a heart always ready to help others.
A month before he embraced martyrdom in "police firing" on August 5 last year during the July Uprising, Rakib had moved to the capital Dhaka with a hope of earning money to overcome unemployment and make himself eligible for marriage.
But a bullet, "fired by the police of fascist Sheikh Hasina", cut short his life and ruined all his dreams.
Rakib's eldest brother, Saiful Hawlader, 25, and his third brother, Rabbi Hawlader, 20, work at a clothing store in Dhaka. His second brother, Rahat Hawlader (22), runs a banana business in the capital.
Among the four brothers, martyred Rakib was the youngest while their only sister Jannat, 15, lives with their mother in the village home.
Talking to BSS, Rakib's grief stricken mother, Shilpi Begum, 42, said Ameer (chief) of local Tabligh Jamaat Group had suggested Rakib to get married soon. Hearing Ameer's advice, she wondered how she could arrange a marriage for her unemployed youngest son when her three older sons were still unmarried.
Thus, Shilpi advised her son, Rakib, to become self-reliant by finding a job and earning a livelihood. Following his mother's advice Rakib went to Dhaka with his elder brothers to find a job.
Shilpi said her son started working at his cousin's plastic factory in the capital Chankharpul where several of Rakib's cousins also worked there, and they all lived in the same rented house.
But in a cruel twist of fate, just one month later, all his dreams and aspirations were left unfulfilled as he returned home from the capital as a lifeless body.
Rakib's mother, Shilpi, is now numb with grief after losing her most beloved and lively son.
Shilpi recalled that she talked to her son on the night of August 4, 2024 for the last time when Rakib asked her, "Ma, will I ever be able to come home and sleep under a new tin roof?"
She replied, "Yes, my son, you will". Now, Shilpi cries throughout the day and night recalling her son's wish of sleeping under a new tin roof house.
Shilpi said, around 11am to 12noon on August 5, Rakib was excited to join the 'March to Dhaka Programme' called by the anti-discrimination student movement. However, his cousins Liton and Russell firmly debarred him. At that time, pretending to go to the toilet, Rakib went to the movement.
Shilpi said, observing Rakib's delay to return, his cousins realized that he had gone to the protest. Thus his cousins, Liton and Russell, went out to search for him and within half an hour, they found him. Rakib was lying on Nazimuddin Road, just past Borhanuddin College, with bullet injury.
As people screamed, asking whose body it was, Liton and Russell said, "He's ours-this is our brother."
When they took Rakib to Mitford Hospital, the duty doctor declared him "dead".
A bullet struck Rakib's right rib and exited through the left. Who could have imagined that Rakib Hawlader Bullet-lovingly nicknamed 'Bullet' by everyone-would have his life taken by a real bullet fired by the police?
Showing a cabinet adorned with Rakib's cricket stumps, medals, crests, and trophies at their village home, his mother burst into tears.
Noting that Rakib was a devoted son, Shilpi tearfully said the night before his death, Rakib had sent Taka 1,500 and told her to use it for her finger treatment.
"But one day later my son returned home as a corpse. Bullet fired by fascists killed my son," she lamented.
Rakib's family so far received financial aid of Taka 5 lakh from the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, Taka 2 lakh from Jamaat-e-Islami, Taka 50,000 taka from the Shishu Academy, Taka 50,000 from the BNP and Taka 10,000 taka from the district Administration.
