Siam Hossain- Photo: BSS

By Borun Kumar Dash

DHAKA, May 18, 2025 (BSS) - Siam Hossain, a young madrasah student and Hafez-e-Quran, had a dream to establish a madrasah in his village in Sirajganj district to impart Islamic education, as there was no such institution there.

He wanted to build an enlightening space where children could learn the Holy Quran and grow up with divine wisdom.

With support from locals, Siam had already started efforts to materialize his dream. He started collecting donations from local people for building the madrasah. On August 4, 2024 during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, he left home to collect donations for the project. But that day turned tragic and he never returned home.

Going to collect donations, Siam actually joined the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in front of Enayetpur Police Station in Sirajganj where he was "shot dead by police" around 1pm, leaving his dream shattered.

However, Siam's life was not just a personal story-it became a part of national history. In a time when democracy and justice were under threat, Siam stood tall, trading his personal aspirations for the nation's collective dream of freedom. His sacrifice embodied courage and faith to end fascism.

Nineteen-year-old Siam, a ninth-grade science student at Enayetpur Islamia Fazil Madrasah, was a skilled Qari (a trained person to recite the Holy Quran perfectly). Apart from continuing his study, he performed responsibility as a muezzin at a local mosque.

Siam was born on March 4 in 2005 to Md Quddus Ali (60) and Mosammat Lucky Khatun (50) of Gomukhi village of Goparekhi South under Belkuchi upazila in Sirajganj.

He was the youngest among their three siblings- two brothers and a sister. His elder brother Rakibul Hasan completed his studies and is now working at a private organization in the capital. His sister, Kona Parveen, is a married woman.

Talking to BSS at their village home in Belkuchi, Siam's grief-stricken mother Lucky said, "My son dreamt of becoming a Maulana and establishing a madrasah. He was our only hope".

Siam never burdened his family rather he performed duty as muezzin at Nazrul Musa Jame Masjid in Betil Bazar to support the family and his study since his father cannot work due to old age complications and it was hard to run the family with the modest income of his elder brother.

Describing the fateful incident, Lucky said her son went out of the home saying he would collect funds for his madrasah. But he joined the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement along with his friends in front of Enayetpur Police Station when police opened random firing at the protesters, she added.

"A bullet struck him in the head- immediately he fell onto the ground. Despite being rushed to Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College immediately, he was declared dead on arrival," Siam's mother wailed.

Amid the turmoil, Siam was laid to his eternal rest at Ajugara graveyard without performing an autopsy at midnight on the same day.

Siam's neighbor, Nazrul Islam, said, "Siam was a polite and cheerful boy with a beautiful voice. His azan would echo in the village. His death hurt our entire village."

While visiting his village home, it was observed that his exercise rings and flowering plants remain vibrant as a silent tribute to the boy who wanted to bring light through faith and knowledge. Siam's vivid memories haunt his mother whenever she sees the flowers blooming on those flower beds.

His maternal grandmother, Robi Khatun, said, "A boy like my grandson is very rare. He was a very humble and polite boy. He loved the little ones, played with them, and respected and honored the elders." She demanded justice for her grandson's killing.

His father, visibly devastated, urged the government to honor Siam's memory by building a madrasah in his name.

Noting that they are going through financial hardship, Kuddus said, "I and my wife are old, sick, and jobless. My elder son can't support the whole family with his meager salary. If the government helps him with a job, we might survive."

Though no case has been filed over his death, Siam's family believes justice lies in recognizing all those who died in the anti-discrimination movement as national martyrs.

The family of martyred Siam so far received Taka 5 lakh from the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, Taka 2 lakh from Jamaat-e-Islami and additional support from BNP. The National Citizen Party (NCP) and local administration visited their home and presented Eid gifts before the Eid-ul-Fitr this year.