It has been one year since 21-year-old Hafez Md Nasir Islam was shot dead during student protests in Tongi, but for his grieving family in Prannath village, Kawnia upazila of Rangpur, the pain remains raw.
Nasir, a madrasa student who had memorised the entire Quran, was the only son of garment trader Md Ashraful Islam and homemaker Nazma Akter. He aspired to become a doctor and was studying at Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa in Tongi.
On July 20, 2024, as student protests escalated nationwide, Nasir joined a demonstration outside his madrasa. Around 3 p.m., police opened fire on the crowd. Nasir was hit in the chest.
“He was taken to Kurmitola General Hospital. We reached there by 6 p.m., but he had already passed away,” said his father, Ashraful Islam. “The doctors told us he lived for around 30 minutes after arriving. He needed blood, but it wasn’t arranged in time.”
The family endured more heartbreak when the hospital delayed releasing Nasir’s body. “We waited more than 20 hours. They gave us his body at 3:30 p.m. the next day,” Ashraful added. Nasir was laid to rest in the family graveyard after a funeral held early on the morning of July 22.
Nasir’s grandfather, 76-year-old Md Moksed Ali, still speaks of him with deep emotion: “My grandson used to say that becoming a martyr is the most honourable thing. They are special people chosen by Allah and go straight to heaven. They are guests of the Most Merciful.”
Nasir memorised the Quran in 2019 and had a deep love for Islamic studies. “He was a smart student and a kind boy,” said his father. “He wanted to help people by becoming a doctor.”
His mother, Nazma Akter, breaks into tears at the mention of his name. “He was my only son. But I’m proud that he died as a martyr. Please pray for him.”
Though a year has passed since Nasir’s death, the family says justice has not been served. They continue to wait—grieving, praying, and believing that Nasir’s sacrifice will one day be honoured with truth and justice.