Shaheed Akash. Photo : Collected

By Barun Kumar Dash

DHAKA, June 20, 2025 (BSS) - "A year after Akash was born, his father, Matiur Rahman, left us and married another woman, beginning my difficult journey with Akash."

"I raised Akash with a lot of hardship. We had to starve sometimes. I had many dreams for him. But all my dreams are shattered. Now, wherever I look, I see only darkness. What will I live with? How will I spend my days?"

Speaking to BSS at her rented house in Ward-5 under the Mirpur Pallabi Police Station area of the capital, Bobby Akhter, 45, mother of Shaheed Emon Hasan Akash-who was martyred in police firing during the anti-discrimination student movement on August 4, 2024-shared these heart-touching words.

"I worked in people's homes as a domestic help. I have no other children. I used to dream about my only child, Akash. But in an instant, everything ended for me. Now I see darkness all around," she said, crying.

Emon Hasan Akash, 22, a martyr of the anti-discrimination student-public movement, lived with his mother in Mirpur, Dhaka. He worked at a courier service to support the family.

Due to financial constraints, Akash, hailing from Madbarkandi village in Sakhipur upazila of Shariatpur district, could not continue his studies after passing the SSC exam.

Akash died after being shot in Mirpur-10 while participating in the student-public mass uprising on the evening of August 4, 2024. He was shot on the right side of his head, and the bullet exited through the left.

The next day, on August 5, around 8 am, he was buried in the graveyard of Madbarkandi village.

Bobby Akhter said, "My son Akash is no longer with me. He has left me forever. My heart is empty. Whenever I think of him, I burst into tears. My child has not called me 'Maa' for last 10 months."

"Without Akash, neither day nor night passes. I live with unbearable pain. In the evening, I still feel as though Akash will come and say, 'Maa, I want to eat biryani-please cook it.' I used to scold him for eating too much biryani," she said.

"Now, when I recall these memories, my heart breaks. Why did Allah Almighty take everything away from me?" she asked, crying.

She said, "I raised Akash with great difficulty. Even though we lived in poverty, I never let him feel the pain. I worked from house to house. He would never tell me if he was injured, thinking I would be hurt."

"They shot and killed my beloved son. He was very gentle and well-mannered," she said.

Bobby Akhter added, "His father, Matiur Rahman, worked in a garment factory. He married a woman there. Only I and Allah know how much pain I endured raising a one-year-old child alone."
"My dream was to see him married and bring his bride home. But that dream is gone forever."

Describing the incident, she said, "That day, his friends sent messages to his mobile. I asked where he was going. Akash said he would go to court. I told him he was my only son-if anything happened to him, I'd have no one left."

During the movement, Akash used to give water to protesters and sometimes take the injured to hospitals.

She said, "We live in Mirpur-11. That day, he first went to the ECB premises and then to Mirpur-10. After a while, I called him and asked where he was. He said he was coming and told me not to worry."

"I then told him to come home for lunch. He asked me to keep the rice ready and told me to eat too. When I called again at noon, he said, 'Mom, you eat and sleep. I'm eating with friends outside,'" she said.

Bobby Akhter further said, "After that, I went to sleep. I woke up around 5:30 pm and called him again. But he didn't answer. Later, around 6:30 pm, one of his friends called and said, 'Oh my Allah, Akash is dead.' I started crying."

"Then I called my brother and told him Akash might have died. He inquired and found out that after Akash was shot, his friends took him to Dr Azmal Hospital Ltd in Mirpur-10, where the doctor declared him dead."

"Later, I went to the hospital and brought his body home. Then we took his body to my father's house in Shariatpur and buried him there," the grieving mother said, crying uncontrollably.

Bobby Akhter said, "Now I suffer from diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure. I cannot work properly. My monthly medicine costs amount to Taka 5,000. I used to cook and serve people."

"I had to pay Taka 15,000 a month in rent. Akash earned the same amount. We were managing our lives."

"All I want is that the person who gave his life for the country be given due respect. My son should be officially recognized as a martyr. I want the death penalty for those who killed my innocent son."

Following the incident, Bobby Akhter filed a murder case against 637 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at Pallabi Police Station on August 27.