News Flash
By Barun Kumar Dash
DHAKA, June 9, 2025 (BSS) — Anisha lost her father when she was only five months old as his father named Md Riton Uddin, 32, was shot dead during the anti-discrimination student movement in the Jatrabari area on August 5, 2024.
Riton, father of three children, joined student-led mass uprising for rooting out fascism from the country.
“My children stare blankly whenever they see someone their father’s age,” said Riton’s wife, Afsana Begum, while talking to BSS recently.
Riton Uddin was a salesman for Akij Group in the Jatrabari area of the capital.
Riton used to live in Dhaka due to his job, while his children and wife live in their native village — Lamchhari village under Hatia upazila of Noakhali district — with his parents and siblings.
Riton Uddin and Afsana Begum, 29, have two sons and a daughter. The eldest son is Abdur Rahman Rihan, 10, the second is Atiqur Rahman Hridoy, 8, and the daughter is Anisha Rahman, who is one year and three months old.
Anisha Rahman became fatherless before she turned five months old. His sons Rihan and Hridoy are studying in a local school in their ancestral village.
Afsana said, “My husband was a very good human being. He was not involved in any politics. He lived a very simple life. I am unfortunate, so the Almighty Allah has taken away my husband at an untimely age.”
“Why did such a situation happen in our happy family? What will be the future of my children? Who will provide security? How will the family run?” she kept crying again while asking these questions.
Talking to BSS at their residence in Kasaituli at 84/A under Bangshal police station in the capital, Arif Uddin, the younger brother of Riton Uddin, said his father suffered a stroke once in 2008 and again in 2012.
He recently underwent surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Of the two siblings of Riton — Arif Uddin, 28, and Mishu Begum, 22 — Arif has completed his Master's from the Department of Anthropology of Jagannath University, while Mishu is studying in the fourth year of honors in the Bengali Department at Eden College.
Arif Uddin said, “My brother used to work as a salesman in Akij Group. His responsibility was in the Jatrabari area. When fascist Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5, he left work and joined the joyous procession.”
“When the procession reached Jatrabari police station, he was injured in police firing. The first bullet hit his hand. The second bullet entered and exited near his rib cage, and the third bullet entered and exited through his navel.”
He said, “My brother used to support any movement against the fascist regime of mass killer Sheikh Hasina."
“Our family has become bewildered after losing my beloved brother,” he said, adding Riton was buried in their native area on August 6.
Arif said that Riton had been participating in the movement in the Shanir Akhra area in between work since July 16, adding that he last met his brother in the afternoon of August 2.
He said, “On Fridays, my brother and I used to go to pray together and have lunch. My brother came on August 2. I told him repeatedly that he didn't need to go to the movement. We talked a lot about family matters that day."
He said, “My brother Riton Uddin always told me, even if it's small, you should do a public job. If I have to give all the blood in my body for this, I will give it, but you have to do a government job.”
“My brother has been martyred. I don't know if I can fulfill my brother's dream or not," said Arif, crying.
Narrating the incident that day, Arif further said, "I had forbidden him from leaving the house even at 11 a.m. on August 5. But he did not listen to me. I was going towards Shahbagh via Shaheed Minar. It was around 1:40 p.m.”
“At that time, my friend told me on the phone that my elder brother Riton Uddin had been shot. I thought it might be a rubber bullet. So, I told him to quickly take him to DMCH," he said.
Arif’s friend took his brother to DMCH with great difficulty.
“When my brother was taken to DMCH, I saw that my brother's right hand was almost severed. Then I thought that maybe if I cut off the hand, my brother could be saved,” Arif said.
Later, Arif saw that another bullet had entered and exited his rib cage, and the third bullet had entered and exited through his navel.
“Seeing this, I lost hope," he said, crying. "Then the doctors asked me to arrange blood. I quickly managed three bags, but after transfusing two, my brother passed away,” he said, crying.
Mother Nasima Begum can’t accept such a tragic death of her son Riton Uddin.
“My innocent son was killed. I want justice for the murder of my son.”
