This is what has been done: Smashing the dreams of a young student and his family in a very small village in Rangpur, Bangladesh. Abu Sayed was the youngest of nine siblings who turned out to be a very promising student in the English department at Begum Rokeya University. While all of his elder siblings had to abandon education because of poverty, Sayed's family made collective sacrifices so that he could continue with education, seeing in him hopes for a better life.
So, he became an active participant in the quota reform protests, driven by his ambitions, which led him to be very idealistic about joining the civil service and lifting his family out of poverty. His involvement sadly resulted in a death that came too soon. Yesterday, Sayed was brought to Rangpur Medical College Hospital with fatal bullet wounds following a violent clash between protesters and law enforcement.
"Sayed was our only hope," his brother, Ramjan, told us. "We had big dreams for him, but all those dreams were shattered today." Their father, Makbul Hossain, is bedridden, and the family relied much on Sayed's potential to change their fortunes. Ramjan continued: "We used whatever little we earned to support his education hoping that one day he would be successful and change our lives. But those dreams have been devastated by bullets."
Gloom has engulfed the house at Babanpur village of Rangpur. People describe Sayed to be a sober, soft-spoken young man and the first among his siblings to pursue higher education. The community is in a deep shock with his untimely death. "Sayed was the brightest star of his family," said Anwar Hossain, one of his neighbors. "His death has really disheartened all of us.".
In a Facebook post a day before his death, Sayed said he was prepared to lay down his life for the cause. At 12:37 pm on Monday, he had posted a photo card of Rajshahi University teacher and martyr Prof Dr Shamsuzzoha, who was killed in police shootings during a student protest in 1969. The caption read, "Sir! We desperately need you right now, Sir! Everyone from your time has passed away, but you are immortal even in death. You inspire everybody through what you have left behind. We are enlightened by your ideals.
Sayed's mother, Monowara Begum, is inconsolable. She keeps going through cycles of tearful breakdowns and fainting spells at the news of her son's death. Her dreams for her youngest son now lie in shattered pieces before her, replaced by overwhelming grief.
Sayed's last status on Facebook implored all to lead a life of integrity and fight for what is right; his statement thus fell very much in tune with the ideals of that martyred professor he used to admire. His words haunt now, reminding one of the price people have to pay in Bangladesh to seek justice and change. This tragedy shows just how great the impact of this sustained struggle for reform has been in their lives, as well as personal sacrifice of those bold enough to dream of a better tomorrow.
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