Moyna Khatun, the widow of martyred Md Shihab Uddin, has demanded capital punishment for those responsible for her husband’s death during a victory procession celebrating the fall of the former regime.
Md Shihab Uddin, 33, was brutally beaten by activists of the Awami League on August 5, 2024, while participating in a victory rally in Kamarkhand upazila of Sirajganj. The procession was part of nationwide celebrations following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid a massive wave of anti-discrimination protests led by students and the general public.
Moyna Khatun, recalled the final moments of her husband’s life. “He came home from the procession and told me he wasn’t feeling well,” she said. “He asked for some water, and then suddenly collapsed. We didn’t even get a chance to take him to the hospital. He died right in front of our eyes.”
Moyna detailed how Shihab had joined the procession early that morning and was attacked at noon. “Awami League leaders and activists struck him in the chest with sticks and hockey sticks. He had been in the procession since 10 a.m. He came back, somehow made it home, and then passed away,” she said.
Fighting back tears, she added, “I begged him not to go that day. I told him, ‘We’re poor, we have debts—what will happen if something happens to you?’ But he reassured me, saying, ‘Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll come back.’ He did come back—but not the way we had hoped.”
Shihab left behind no savings, no property, and no secure income for his family. “We’re drowning in debt,” said Moyna. “We’ve taken loans from various microfinance organizations and must pay installments every week. I have no job, no income. How will I raise our two daughters? How will I ensure their education?”
Her voice trembling, she added, “My husband was a good man. He prayed regularly, always tried to help others. Despite our poverty, we lived together with love and dignity. By the grace of Almighty Allah, my husband died a martyr. I am proud of him, even amid this overwhelming uncertainty.”
Moyna’s pain is shared by her young daughters, Morsalina (7) and Mariyam (4). Morsalina said, “Our father used to come home from work and take us to the shop. He always bought us snacks. Now, he’s gone. I miss him so much every afternoon.”
Little Mariyam simply said, “My father was martyred. He used to take us to the store and buy us nice things.”
Shihab’s mother, Chamela Khatun, expressed deep sorrow. “How will we raise his daughters now? How will his wife survive? We are devastated,” she said.
Their neighbour, Ruma Khatun, added, “We don’t know how Moyna will manage, caring for her children and her sick mother-in-law.”
Shihab’s father, Selim Pramanik, also shared his anguish. “My son is gone. He left behind his family—how can I sleep at night? Who will take care of his children’s future and their education?”
When a reporter visited their home in Pramanik Para village, Kamarkhand upazila, the reality of their hardship was evident. The family lives in a small tin-roofed house with no proper lighting or ventilation. The interior is dark and damp, reflecting the deep sorrow and deprivation they now face.
Shihab, born on January 1, 1991, was the eldest of five siblings. His younger brother, Nazmul, works as a mason, while his older brother, Nasim, is employed in a garment factory in Dhaka.
“My two daughters are both bright students,” Moyna said. “This year, they topped their classes. My husband always dreamed of raising them to be educated and kind human beings. But will I ever be able to fulfill his dream? Education is expensive—where will the money come from?”
Moyna concluded with a heartfelt plea: “All who were killed in the anti-discrimination movement should be officially recognized as martyrs. And those who murdered my husband must be identified and brought to justice. They should be given the harshest punishment under the law.”