Fifteen-year-old Alif Ahmed Siam's dream of becoming a pilot remained unfulfilled as he embraced martyrdom in the July-August mass uprising that ousted autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.
Siam was a 10th grade science student at the Dairy Farm High School. He regularly participated in the procession and meetings of the anti-discrimination student movement and played active roles, reports BSS.
His mother Tania Akhter always wanted her son to become a doctor when he grows up, but Siam dreamt of becoming a pilot as he used to love adventure and had the desire to travel around the world.
Siam left his home at around 11:30 am on August 5, 2024, to participate in the "March to Dhaka" programme. Later, he was shot in the head under the footbridge of Savar Police Station's bus stand at around 2:30 pm.
The bullet entered the lower part of his head, between his eyebrows, and went out through the back of his head.
Upon receiving the news at around 3:30 pm, his mother Tania Akhter admitted Siam to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar. Unfortunately, she could not save her son, as he died at around 6 pm on August 7 while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the same hospital.
After the namaz-e-janaza at Islam Nagar Bazar Central Jame Mosque and Jahangirnagar Central Shaheed Minar, Siam's body reached Banshbaria village in Bagerhat at 5 am on August 8 and he was buried in the family graveyard.
Martyr Siam's mother, Tania Akhter, is a teacher by profession.
She said Siam used to tell her that he would become a pilot, go on adventures, and perform the holy Hajj with his entire family.
As a talented student, Siam was popular among his teachers. The school principal, through his mother, requested Siam not to join the movement.
But Siam told his mother, "Either I will live like a hero, or I will die like a hero."
Siam's mother Tania Akhter told BSS in a recent interview, "I wanted to be recognised by my son's name instead of my husband's name. Now everyone knows me as the mother of martyr Siam."
Siam was injured by rubber bullets and tear gas during a procession at Jahangirnagar University on July 17 but he did not quit the movement. He could not get admission to Jahangirnagar School College and University after attending the admission tests in Class One and Class Six due to the quota system.
Therefore, he played an active role in the quota reform movement. He was on the streets until the last day.
Siam is the only son of businessman Md Bulbul Kabir and teacher Tania Akhter of Banshbaria Kashimpur area of Dema Union in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila.
Siam has only one sister, Israt Jahan Lamha, 12, who is currently studying in the 7th grade at Jahangirnagar University School and College.
Siam's family got Taka five lakh from July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, Taka two lakh from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Tk one lakh from Dhaka BNP unit as assistance.
Bulbul Kabir, father of Shaheed Siam, said, "My son sacrificed his life to expedite the fall of the country's dictatorial regime."
He demanded that a school, college or hospital in Bagerhat should be named after Shaheed Siam.
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