A year has passed since Shahinur Begum, a mother of five, was tragically shot during the mass protests of July 2024, but for her children, the wounds remain as raw as ever.
Shahinur, 52, was a fish vendor who moved to Dhaka over a decade ago after her husband left her and remarried. She became the sole provider for her children, working tirelessly to ensure they had food and a roof over their heads. But on July 22 last year, her life was cut short when she was shot during a protest near Kazla in Jatrabari.
Her daughter Jasmine, now 28, still remembers the moment vividly. “My mother didn’t die of sickness,” she said, her voice trembling. “She was shot while trying to earn a living. No amount of money or compensation can ever replace her.”
Shahinur had been selling fish that morning, as she did every day, when police opened fire without warning on protesters and bystanders. She was struck and fell, bleeding on the street, but the chaos prevented anyone from helping her immediately. She was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital hours later, but despite the doctors’ efforts, she passed away on August 9 after two weeks of suffering.
“She worked in rain, in Ramadan, and even when she was sick — just to feed us,” said her eldest daughter, Hafeza, 30. “She never stopped. But that morning, everything changed.”
The pain is not just emotional but financial. Shahinur’s family still lives in their modest two-room home in Shonir Akhra’s Govindapur area. Jasmine and her younger brother, Robiul, 18, now sell rice cakes at the Rayerbagh bus stand. Their older brother, Shariful Islam, 23, had just left for Saudi Arabia — something their mother had worked so hard to arrange.
“She dreamed of him going abroad so we could have a better life,” Hafeza said quietly. “It breaks our hearts that she didn’t live to see it.”
Three of Shahinur’s daughters are now married, but the family still struggles. “We’re surviving, but it’s hard,” Hafeza continued. “Our father hasn’t helped us. It’s just us, trying to get by.”
The pain of losing their mother is compounded by uncertainty. “We heard a BNP leader filed a murder case at Jatrabari Police Station,” Hafeza said. “But we don’t know if anyone has been named in the case, or if there is any progress in the investigation.”
Despite the family’s grief, political leaders from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami visited after the funeral, offering support and condolences. Ramiz Londoni, the former BNP president of Meghna upazila, stood by them, promising continued assistance. But even with this support, justice feels out of reach.
As July 2025 approaches, the family’s wait for justice continues. “We don’t just want compensation,” said Jasmine. “We want justice for my mother. She gave everything for us. And now, we need to know that her sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”
The family’s pain is a reminder of the high cost of protest— not just for those who march in the streets, but for the families left behind when lives are taken too soon. The Begum family remains hopeful, though their hearts are heavy. For them, the fight for justice is far from over.