Martyred Farhad Hossain -Photo: Collected

 CHATTOGRAM, May 26, 2025 (BSS) – “I still can’t believe that Farhad is no more among us. Every moment it feels like he’s either at the student mess or at the university, he’ll return home and call me ‘Baba’ any time.”

 These were the tearful words of Golam Mostafa, father of Farhad Hossain, a brilliant student of Chattogram University, as he expressed his unbearable grief over the loss of his son in the 2024 July Uprising. 

Twenty-one-year old Farhad, was a third-year student in the History Department at Chattogram University (CU).
 
Hailing from Sreepur upazila of Magura district, Farhad continued his study staying in a student mess in the city. He was an active participant in the anti-discrimination student movement from the very beginning of the campaign demanding quota reform in government jobs.
 
As the anti-discrimination student movement ascended to its peak, on the afternoon of August 4, Farhad joined the movement in the WASA area of the city when “police and Awami terrorists launched a sudden attack” on the protesters. Farhad was shot in the back of his head and died on the spot.
 
Farhad’s friend, Taufiq, from the International Relations Department at Chattogram University, said, “Farhad was incredibly talented. He was a quiet, calm person. He always did well in exams”.
 
While talking to BSS over phone about Farhad, his father Golam Mostafa said, “Farhad was the third among my two sons and two daughters. His dream was to become a compassionate human being and fulfill the hopes and aspirations of our family. But all those dreams were shattered in an instant by a bullet from a killer policeman.”
 
Mostafa, a covered van driver by profession, said he was educating his children amid acute financial hardship. “Though it was very hard to meet the family needs with my meager income, I was always committed to providing best education to my children. My eldest son, Anwar Hossain, is pursuing a Master's degree in Accounting at Dhaka University,” he said in an emotion -choked voice.
 
Recalling memories of his brother, Anwar said, “Farhad wanted to become a high-ranking officer. He would say, once he finishes his study and gets a job, he will free our family from all hardships and poverty”.
 
But all those dreams have turned to dust in a moment — with a single bullet, he said in a composed tone while he was trying to control his emotion.
 
Despite the unbearable grief, both Farhad’s father and brother expressed pride in his courage and sacrifice. Though losing a family member is painful beyond words, they said they are proud of what Farhad stood for.
 
Farhad’s body was taken to his native village in Sreepur upazila of Magura district on that night. He was laid to eternal rest around 11am on August 5. Just a few hours later, the autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina fled the country in face of the massive student-people movement.
 
For Farhad's death, the family alleges that the authoritarian government's brutal repression and deliberate targeting of students led to the killing.
 
They also wish that the new Bangladesh -- built upon the sacrifices of so many -- should be free from all sorts of discrimination, ensuring equitable rights for all.
 
Farhad’s family demanded capital punishment for all the perpetrators of the mass killings, so that no one ever dares to commit such heinous crimes again.