News Flash
TANGAIL, May 14, 2025 (BSS) – With a dream of becoming an Islamic scholar (Maulana), Hafez Sadik left his remote village in the district for the capital Dhaka few years back. Along with becoming an enlightened personality, he also had a dream of bringing financial stability to his family, and rebuilding their tin-roofed home into a permanent concrete structure once he completed his study.
His journey began with a hope of becoming Islamic scholar but it turned into a tragedy.
Sadik, a 22-year-old madrasa student, was “fatally shot dead by police” during the anti-discrimination student movement at Uttara in the capital on July 19, 2024. A devout student of Islamic studies, Sadik had no political affiliation, rather he desired to pursue higher education and serve the nation.
According to his family members, on that day, after Jumu'ah prayers, Sadik joined a protest procession with fellow students in Uttara when police launched a crackdown on the protesters. At that time, a bullet pierced through his back and lodged near his navel.
His identity remained unknown until the next day (July 20), when Uttara Modern Medical Hospital authority was preparing to bury his body as an unclaimed one.
However, recognizing his Islamic attire and appearance, the hospital staff made the last effort to identify him by contacting local madrasahs there when a teacher from Uttara’s Jamia Deenia Islamia identified the body as Sadik’s.
Later, his body was brought to his village home at Fulbaria Karimganj of Ghatail Upazila and buried at Ghona Para graveyard here.
When this correspondent went to Sadik’s village in Ghatail's remote Sagar Dighi Union and asked about his home, residents took him to the house of the martyr. Sensing the arrival of a journalist, Sadik’s mother, Shahnaz Begum (55) came out of the house. She was observed devastated and overwhelmed with grief.
While talking to BSS, Sadik’s grief-stricken mother burst into tears recalling her son’s final promises.
“Maa, I don't like seeing you work so hard for the family anymore. Once I complete my study, I’ll make sure you never have to work. I’ll build a concrete house for you. You’ll only worship and eat well,” Shahnaz quoted her martyred son as he told her in their final conversation.
“Sadik dedicated his life for the country. I will never get my son back,” she wailed.
Sadik’s father, Lutfur Rahman Lebu, is an expatriate in Kuwait. He was the second among their three brothers. His elder brother Shamim is an expatriate in Singapore while his youngest brother, Shahed, studies in Class 6.
Sadik began his education at Karimganj Government Primary School and then memorized the Holy Quran at Araipara Madrasah in Sakhipur. After becoming Hafez-e-Quran, he enrolled in Hadith Department at Jamia Deenia Islamia at Abdullahpur in Dhaka’s Uttara, where he studied until his demise.
“My son was a Hafez-e-Quran. He studied and worked only for Islam until his last breath. I believe Allah would accept him as a martyr,” weeping Shahinaz said.
Demanding justice for her son’s killing, she said, “The police killed my innocent son on Sheikh Hasina’s order. I demand justice—I want to see those responsible hanged before I die.”
About financial assistance she got since Sadik’s death, Shahinaz said they received Taka 5 lakh from the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation and Taka 2 lakh from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Talking to BSS, Sadik’s younger brother Shahed said, “My brother dreamed of going abroad after completing his higher education. But the dream remains unfulfilled”. He also demanded justice for his brother’s killing, saying he wanted to see the perpetrators face the music.
Sadik’s paternal uncle, Md Masud, loved Sadik most. “We cannot explain to anyone how much we are suffering after losing our nephew. He will not come back. Therefore, on behalf of the family, we demand that Sadik's killers must be arrested soon and awarded the death penalty,” he said.
Rakibul Hasan Rakib, a local coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement in Ghatail, said, “Sheikh Hasina has ruined the country. Hundreds of students have been martyred. Sadik is one of them. He deserves state honors, and the killers must face exemplary punishment.”
Ghatail Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Abu Sayeed said Sadik was a brave son of Ghatail. “He dedicated his life for the country. The people of Ghatail are proud of him,” he added.
