Md Morshed Alam. Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, May 10, 2025 (BSS) - Highly educated freelancer Md Morshed Alam, a 36-year-old enthusiastic young man, once dreamed of a just and humane Bangladesh free from fascism and discrimination. 

Now, that dream is marred by the trauma of state violence-his right leg remains paralyzed following brutal police torture during last year's anti-government protests.

Morshed was born into a modest middle-class family in Rangpur. Despite financial constraints, he worked hard to build a better future for himself and his family. 

He is the eldest of three siblings, the son of the late Md Abdul Mannan, who had worked in Saudi Arabia before passing away in 2018 and Amena Begum, now 56. 

His sisters, Dilruba Jahan and Meherin Parvin, are married and settled with their families.

Morshed completed his secondary education at Rangpur High School in 2004 and finished HSC from Rangpur Government College in 2006.
 
Later, He got admitted to the Special Education Department of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) at the University of Dhaka.
 
Morshed's professional journey began in 2011 when he joined SSL Wireless as a part-time freelancer. 

In 2013, he married Tanzima Akhter from Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari district, following a love relationship. Tanzima, a postgraduate in English from Begum Rokeya University and an honors graduate in Folklore from Rajshahi University, aspired to become a BCS cadre. 

The couple settled in a rented apartment in Bosila, Dhaka, where Morshed continued freelancing and later joined View Mobile, working there until 2018 before becoming associated with Believe International - Luxembourg.

Everything had been moving forward according to his dream plan to properly educate his son Zaim. His wife was preparing herself to participate in the BCS exam to become a cadre officer in government service.

However, just one day before the fall of Sheikh Hasina's fascist regime, Morshed's dream was shattered when he was viciously beaten and injured by the police and terrorists of the Awami League and its allied organizations in Dhaka city on August 4 last year.

Being unable to continue his normal activities due to injuries, Morshed had to return to Rangpur city with his curved bone on his paralysed right leg. 
 
Without finding any other alternative, Morshed has kept his wife and son at his father-in-law's house in Mahimaganj town of Gaibandha so that his son can continue to study and his wife can continue to prepare for the BCS exam.
 
Talking to BSS at his house in Keranipara area of Rangpur city, Morshed said that he was not only concerned about his son's future, but he was equally concerned for the future of all children in the country for the past 16 years.
 
"I couldn't sleep properly when fascist Hasina established a reign of terror, hooliganism, repression of the people, enforced disappearances, looting of public funds and smuggling abroad. She left no future for the nation," he said. 
 
All of these issues created pain in Morshed's heart, which inspired him to participate in the anti-quota movement from July and later, in the anti-discrimination student movement, which eventually turned into a student-public uprising.
 
Morshed said, "I had been participating in the anti-discrimination protest marches at Mohammadpur bus stand area in Dhaka almost every day since July, hoping to overthrow the fascist regime." 
 
As part of this, on the morning of August 4, Morshed left his house to participate in a protest march at the Tinmathar Intersection point near the Mohammadpur bus stand. Tens of thousands of students and people had been rushing there.
 
"The anti-discrimination student-people movement had already reached its peak at that time, and I had no fear of sacrificing my life, like all those who participated in the protest marches, with the sole goal of overthrowing fascism forever," he said.
 
At around 2 pm, hundreds of police and terrorists from the Awami League and its affiliated organizations suddenly attacked and opened fire indiscriminately on the peaceful protest procession, killing and injuring students and people. 
 
"But, despite the countless dead and injured around us, none of us retreated. The attacks and firing by the police and Awami terrorists continued and the number of deaths and injuries kept increasing. The students and people were indomitable at any cost," he said.
 
At one point, Morshed was hit by numerous bullets fired by the police and fell to the ground with multiple injuries to his legs and various parts of his body. 
 
"The police then started beating me indiscriminately with rifle butts, causing profuse bleeding in my legs and other parts of my body. I became extremely weak and unable to move," he said. 
 
In such a dire situation, when everyone was at risk, patriotic students and the public risked their lives to rescue Morshed, even as police firing and attacks continued from all sides.
 
"They took me to an alley near the area where the door of a house was open. The owner of the house came out and took me inside as if an angel sent by Almighty Allah had come to save my life...I can't forget that moment in my life," Morshed said. 
 
"The unidentified owner of the house himself gave me first aid. I stayed there until evening. At that time, the police were searching for the protesters identifying them as terrorists, militants or anti-state elements." 
 
Morshed's muscles from the knee to the ankle of his right leg were paralyzed and the ligaments were severely torn, causing excruciating pain. He was unable to go to a hospital for fear of police arrest and torture.
 
"At night, I somehow came out, went to a pharmacy and bought some medicines and came home with unbearable pains throughout the body. I couldn't sleep even for a while the whole night due to pains," he said. 
 
On the morning of August 5, Morshed was at home because he could not move due to unbearable pain all over his body. 
 
"Suddenly, after the Zuhr prayers, I heard the news of fascist Hasina's flight from the country. Despite my right leg not being in good shape, I forgot about the unbearable pain in my body and came out...I saw a sea of people cheering on the streets," he said. 
 
Morshed also participated in the victory procession and along with the stream of thousands of people, went to the Ganabhaban where he collapsed on the ground, unable to walk or move any further due to body pain and extreme weakness.
 
He returned home with the help of others and started thinking about his treatment.
 
By this time, Bangladesh Army announced to provide fee treatments to the injured people of the July Revolution.
 
"Knowing the news, I went to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at Kurmitola in Dhaka on August 9 when all my examinations were conducted free of cost. Date of my surgery was fixed for September 9 after necessary medication," he said.
 
As suggested by the expert physicians, Morshed was admitted to the CMH on September 9 and his surgery at right leg was conducted on September 12 and he was released from there on September 29 last year.
 
"I am now undergoing follow-up treatment at the CMH of Rangpur Cantonment and PG Hospital. I am taking nine medicines every day. The muscles below the knee of my right leg are still paralyzed and because of this I am unable to walk properly," he said. 
 
The doctors hope that Morshed may recover in course of time through proper treatment, medication and maintaining some recommended exercises.
 
Morshed has established an organization 'July Joddha' (July Fighters) with the injured people in the July Revolution with the aim of organizing all the injured brothers and sisters of Rangpur district.
 
The local July Fighters have nominated Morshed as the convener of the organization's Rangpur district committee.
 
"The main objectives of the organisation are to listen to various advantages and disadvantages of the July Fighters and making them aware of their rights and making liaison with the authorities concerned," he said.

Like Morshed, his mother Amena Begum and wife Tanjima have demanded exemplary punishment for the criminals involved in the killing of innocent students and people so that fascism can never raise its head on this soil again.