Ali Hossain- Photo: BSS

By Barun Kumar Dash

DHAKA, May 22, 2025 (BSS) – Every time they speak about their father, young Ratul and Siddiq break down in tears as they miss him with profound love.

Their father, Ali Hossain, was shot dead during the mass uprising on July 19 last year. Since then, his wife, Ratna Akhter, and their two sons—Siam Hossain Ratul, 13, and Siddiq Hossain, 6—have been struggling to cope with the unbearable loss of their beloved ones.

Talking to BSS at her residence located in Chini Bottola of Kamrangirchar, Ratna Akter, wife of Ali Hossain, said, “They lost their father at such a young age. What will become of their future?

Ali Hossain, 40, came from a poor family in Shariatpur. He had to drop out of school and work to support his family after their ancestral land was swallowed by the Padma River. He used to work as a shop assistant at "Sada Kalo Fashion House" on the second floor of New Supermarket in the capital.

On July 19, as student protests flared in the New Market area, Ali was shot piercing the right side of his chest. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) but succumbed to his injuries around 11:00pm that night.

But it took three days for his family to locate the body. He was laid to rest at Azimpur graveyard on July 22.

Ali’s mother Rangmala, 60, has been shattered by the death of her youngest child. Her husband, Md Idris, passed away many years ago.

Just months before his death, Ali was living peacefully with his family. “He left home around 8:30am that day and called me after reaching the shop,” Ratna recalled. “We spoke for the last time around 5:30pm. I told him there was gunfire in the area and urged him to come home safely. He assured me that he was at the shop and there was nothing to be worried about.”

But tragedy struck shortly after. “While returning home after closing the shop, Ali was shot by police in front of the New Market police outpost,” she said.

Ali’s elder brother, Ali Akbar, added: “We rushed to DMCH after hearing the news, but initially we could not find him . . .   It was chaotic in the New Market area, with heavy gunfire. Ali was our youngest sibling and very dear to all of us.”

“Our village home is in Shariatpur. Our father is no more, and our mother is heartbroken. We all live together in Kamrangirchar. Since Ali’s death, his children have been living in misery. They constantly talk about their father and cry,” he said.

Ali Akbar raised his younger brother after their father’s demise. “I last spoke to him at 9am on the day he died. I told him to be careful because the situation wasn’t good. Losing him feels like losing a part of myself,” he said. “Ali sacrificed his life for the nation. He was cherished by the whole family.”

Ratna said, “I want justice for my husband’s murder. I appeal to the interim government to honour his sacrifice. Please help me survive with my two children.”

Siraj, the owner of “Sada Kalo Fashion House”, described Ali as “a good, humble man”. He said, “It’s still hard to believe that he is no more.”