Martyred Mahfuz Alam Shravan -Photo: Collected

 
By Babul Akhtar Rana
 
NAOGAON, June 15, 2025 (BSS) - Twenty-one-year old talented student Mahfuz Alam Shravan's dream was to become a high-ranking official after completing his studies.

After passing his HSC exam from a college near his home, he went to the capital Dhaka for higher education in the hope of fulfilling his dream.
 
But in the end,  Shrabon set a unique example of selfless and pure patriotism by sacrificing his life for the country, disregarding all his interests and dreams and aspirations, ignoring the wishes of his parents and brother.
 
He was shot dead by police on August 5, 2024, while participating in the anti-discrimination student-public movement in Dhaka.
 
Mahfuz Alam Shrabon is the son of Mossarraf Hossain, 57, of Dogachhi village in Boalia union of Naogaon Sadar upazila. 

His father Mossarraf Hossain is a motor mechanic and mother Baby Naznin, 46, is a housewife.
 
They are three brothers. Shrabon is the second.
 
Shrabon used to live at his father's workplace in Mohadebpur upazila of Naogaon.
 
Martyred Shrabon passed his SSC exam from Mohadebpur Sarbamangala Pilot High School in 2021 and his HSC from Raigaon Degree College in Mohadebpur upazila in 2024.

While talking to BSS at different places recently, Shrabon's teacher, parents, elder brother and neighbors narrated about him and his martyrdom.
 
Arifur Rahman Sarder, principal of Raigaon Degree College in Mohadebpur upazila of Naogaon district, said, "Mahfuz Alam Shrabon was a brilliant student. He passed his HSC exam from my educational institution.”
 
“Shrabon wanted to become a high official. But he set an exemplary example by giving priority to the interests of the country and sacrificing his life for the interests of the country rather than fulfilling his own dreams," he said.
 
He demanded that Shrabon's murder must be tried and that all those killed in the anti-fascism movement be given the status of martyrs by the state.
 

When the students and the public took him to Dr Ajmal Hospital Ltd in Dhaka in his injured condition, the doctor on duty there declared him dead.
 
Shrabon’s mother Baby Naznin told BSS that on August 4, around 8 pm, Shrabon called her and said, “Mom, how are you? What did you eat?”
 
At that time, Shrabon’s mother was a little sick.
 
She told Shrabon, “The situation in the country is not good, my son. Be careful. Since your office is closed for four days, stay at home. Don't go out.”
 
“Mother, you always think about yourself. Why don't you think about the country? Those who have been martyred are also the children of many mothers. Along with your son, you should also think about your beautiful country,” the mother said, quoting Shrabon as saying.
 
Shrabon further said to his mother, “Why are you so selfish, Mom? I will join the movement tomorrow. No matter how much you forbid me, I will not listen.”
 
Then the mother gave her phone to her eldest son, Mostafizur Rahman Bappi, 31, and said, “Tell your younger brother that the situation in the country is not good, he should not join the movement.”
 
Martyred Shrabon's mother further said, “My son gave his life for the country. I will never get my son back,” she cried loudly as she said this.
 
Noting that many mothers in the country have lost their children to fascist Sheikh  Hasina, she demanded justice for the murders of all martyrs of July-August uprising, including her son martyred Shrabon.
 
Martyred Shrabon's elder brother Mostafizur Rahman Bappi told BSS that Shrabon went to Dhaka for higher education after passing HSC in 2024.
 
Six months ago, he joined Renata Pharmaceuticals Limited as a lab assistant along with his studies.
 
While working, Shrabon joined the anti-discrimination student-public movement on August 3, 4 and 5, 2024 and was killed in police firing.
 
He also said, after talking to his mother on the night of August 4, when she gave him the phone, "I also tried to convince Shrabon repeatedly."
 
“At one point, Shrabon said, okay my brother, I will not go to the movement. Tomorrow I will go to Arif uncle's house to eat. I will not go to any movement,” Bappi said, quoting Shrabon as saying.
 
“These were the last words of the night. Then Shrabon hung up the phone saying that he would call his father,” Bappi said in teary eyes.
 
Shaheed Shrabon's father, Mossarraf Hossain, said that Shrabon called on the night of August 4 and asked about his well-being.
 
He said, “Work well and take care of your health. Eat well. Keep an eye on my younger brother Ikhtiar Rahman, father.”
 
These were the last words of Shrabon with his father.
 
Mossarraf Hossain also said, “What crime did my son commit? The crime was only that he participated in the movement. Is that a crime? He didn't attack any policeman! Why was my innocent son shot dead?”
 
“I want justice for the murder of my son and demand that all the martyrs of the July-August uprising, including my son, be given the status of martyrs by the state,” the lamenting father said, crying uncontrollably.
 
 Shrabon's elder brother Mostafizur Rahman Bappi said, “The next day, August 5, at around 9 am, I called Shrabon. He said he will go to Arif uncle's house to eat. He will return home after eating lunch there.”
 
“Then around 1 pm, I called Shrabon again. He said he was already out after eating lunch. I will go home after getting a haircut. That was the last I spoke to him,” Bappi said.
 
Later, Shrabon’s classmates told Bappi that he had been actively participating in the movement since August 3. He had also participated in the movement on the day of the incident.
 
Shrabon used to live in a mess in the Milk Vita area of 6 Road in Mirpur Section 1.
 
On the day of the incident, Shrabon first went from Mirpur No 10 to Mirpur No 2 Model police station area. 

There, the police shot and killed seven people from the top of the Mirpur No 2 police station building.
 
At that time, Shrabon was also seriously injured on the spot. The locals took him to Dr Ajmal Hospital Ltd. 

The doctor on duty there declared her dead. Shrabon had been shot in the right chest.
 
Bappi said that on the day of the incident, on August 5, at 3:20 pm, someone called from Shrabon's phone, claiming to be the manager of Dr Ajmal Hospital Ltd, and asked, “What is your name? What is the relationship between you and Shrabon?"
 
After Bappi introduced himself, the caller said, "Your brother's condition is not good. Please come to Dhaka quickly."
 
“I immediately informed my father, mother and my wife about the matter. But we could not go to Dhaka that day, because all the transport was closed,” said Bappi.
 
After contacting relatives in Dhaka, Bappi went to Dr Ajmal Hospital Ltd the next day and the body was brought home at around 3:30 am on August 6.
 
After the funeral, Shrabon was buried in the family graveyard of their native village.
 
Neighbors Saidur Rahman and Raju said Shrabon was a very good boy. The murderer Hasina has destroyed the country.

 Hundreds of students have been martyred in this movement. They demanded justice for all these killings.