Faizul Islam Rajan. Photo : Collected

By Borun Kumar Dash

DHAKA, June 1, 2025 (BSS) – On July 19, 2024, the vibrant life of 16-year-old Faizul Islam Rajan was snatched in a moment during the student-people uprising. 

An 11th grade student of Mirpur’s Dhaka Model Degree College, Rajan had dreams — modest but powerful.

He wanted to finish school, support his mother, and rebuild a family broken by abandonment and hardship. But a bullet fired during the anti-discrimination student movement ended all that.

Rajan was fatally “shot in the chest by police” near Mirpur-10. The bullet pierced through his right side and exited through his back, ending his life on the spot.

Now his grief-stricken mother, Mahmuda, still clutches her son’s bloodstained T-shirt — the one he wore when he was shot. Holding it to her chest, she stares blankly at the door, as if at any moment, her son might walk through it, laughing and alive.

Nine years ago, Rajan’s father- Nur Alam- remarried and left his mother with their three siblings. The family’s world turned upside down. Mahmuda struggled alone to raise her three children.

Hailing from Pachani Sikdar Bari in Narayanpur of Matlab Upazila in Chandpur district, the family is living in the Uttar Baher Char area in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital. Rajan was the youngest of two brothers and one sister. His elder brother M Rajib works in a garment factory in Savar.

“I hoped he (Rajan) would complete his education and shoulder the family responsibility. His father left us nine years ago and married another woman. My elder son gave up schooling to support us. I only had hope with my youngest son. Now, that too is gone,” Mahmuda burst into tears while sharing her agonies with BSS at their Uttar Baher Char residence.

Recounting the memories on the tragic day, she said Rajan had called her around 12noon on that day.

“I asked him if he joined the movement. He said no. At that time I told him that we are poor, and if anything happened to him, who would look after us?” grieving Mahmuda recalled.

But minutes later, she recounted, Rajan called her again. His voice was different.

“‘Ma, forgive me,’ he said. That was when I understood that he actually had joined the protest. But I again asked him to stay safe.” Mahmuda wailed.

Around 3pm, Mahmuda received a call. An unfamiliar woman’s voice told her Rajan had been shot.  

“When the woman told me that Rajan had been shot, I immediately phoned my daughter and her husband, who lived in Mirpur. They rushed to Azmal Hospital, where they found his lifeless body,” weeping Mahmuda recalled.

She said Rajan was laid to eternal rest the next morning (on July 20) at Tararnagar Uttar Baher Char central graveyard.

Rajan’s elder brother, Rajib, recalled the painful moment -- when he bathed his younger brother’s body -- he still trembles when he speaks of that night.

“I still can't forget the moment I washed my younger brother's body with my own hands. My head was spinning at the time. It was very difficult to bathe his bullet-riddled body. Even then, I held back my tears and bathed him with my own hands,” Rajib said in a sobbing tone.

He said since he could not give his younger brother enough money for education, Rajan used to work at a shop to support his study and the family as well.

Referring to eyewitnesses and Rajan’s friends, Rajib said his brother joined the peaceful demonstration near Mirpur-10 when “police opened fire”. A bullet struck his chest, and he collapsed, he said, adding, when Rajan’s friends took him to Azmal Hospital, doctors declared him dead.

Rajib filed a case with Mirpur Model Police Station on August 16, naming 24 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the prime accused. Other accused included former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former law minister Anisul Huq.

Rajib tearfully said, “I can't express in words how painful the pain of losing a brother is. I want capital punishment for those who killed my brother.”

Rajan’s mother also demanded justice for her son’s killing. “I want those, who killed my son, face capital punishment,” Mahmuda demanded.