Abu Sayed: A Hero Of The Nation

I came to this world in 1999. I was not born in any famous hospital. My first place is my broken home. I was named Abu Sayed after birth. Everyone calls me Sayed. I first realized the joy of having a name of my own when my mother called me ❝ Sayed ❞.

We are 9 brothers and sisters. The remaining 8 people are older than me. I am the youngest. 6 brothers and 3 sisters. Being the youngest in the family, they all take great care and love me. My family is very big. But we lack a lot. I have understood this since birth. Because I did not get any nutritious food after my birth. My Father is a day-labourer. And he alone is the income source of this family.

I started to grow slowly through the lack. After growing up, my father admitted me to school. Although we lacked, there was no shortage of happiness and dreams. Many of my elder brothers and sisters never went to school and many could not continue their education due to poverty. But by the infinite mercy of the great Allah, I was the most intelligent among my brothers and sisters. So my father did not have to bear the cost of my education during my school life. I got scholarship in class 5, 8, 10 and inter also. So the scholarship money is covering my education expenses. I never studied privately in school and high school. So I used to attend the class every day and understand what was read, I used to pay attention in the class.

I am able to continue my studies because of my hard work. Besides studying, I also did tuitions to support myself and my family financially. This was how my day was going. School, school to high school and high school to college. I got a chance at Rokeya University after taking the exam for college. Not only did I get a chance but also got a full scholarship. My father was very happy that I got the scholarship. He started telling everyone in the village "My son has got a scholarship in Rokeya University". My family was also very happy. They started to conceive with me. Seeing them so happy made my happiness double. 

I focused on studying to get admission in the university. Leaving everything in the world, I started studying only. Because I started weaving dreams. I will finish university, then vive exam for BCS. I will get a good job after completing my studies. I will take care of my family. I will not let my father work as a day laborer. I will build my own house. I will stay in that house with my parents, brothers and sisters, I think everyone in the family. I will remove all our shortcomings. We will all spend the rest of our lives happily together. These are my dreams from a long time ago. These things I have to fulfill. 

When I was combining day and night to fulfill my dreams. That's when the quota came the middle of my dreams. The court has announced that the families of freedom fighters can use the quota for jobs. I was stunned. Does it make any sense! A person has sacrificed his whole life and studied, got good results, applied for a job; If that person and a family member of a freedom fighter, who has completed his education some way, whose results are not very good, who is not very qualified for that job, interview them together and then the freedom fighter's family member will get job using quota but not the eligible person! Just because he does not have a quota! His years of hard work, talent will be in vain! Then there is no point in working so hard, spending money, studying. Because there is no evaluation of merit.

A farmer's child will remain a farmer, a day laborer's child will remain a day laborer, a rickshaw puller's child will remain a rickshaw puller. And a government employee's child will be a government employee. Then there will be a shortage in the house of the poor! How to cut poverty? How will people's financial situation change? How will the dreams of the children of lower-middle class families like mine be fulfilled? Will our sufferings be in vain? Then it would have been better to work and play instead of studying for so many years, without dreaming hundreds of dreams... Even It would have helped the family and the financial situation would have been a little better...

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July 15, 2024, Monday-

Me and all the students of Rokeya University joined the movement today. We have been protesting for several days. Our University's Chhatra League members asked us to Instead of marching on the campus, take to the streets. When we start to do accordingly, our university teachers and Chhatra League try to block us. But we will not move from this movement. This is a fight for our rights. Why do we move from this fight? There is no question of withdrawing from this fight. We will fight, we will fight for our rights, we must fight. 

The situation began to escalate. Once the Chhatra League attacked one of our teachers. He was hit and they blamed us that we attacked the teacher. I go to protest it. But they slapped me back twice. No one says anything because of the power of Chhatra League. But will it all end here? Victory will be unfair? 

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July 16, 2024, Tuesday-

At 12 noon, Me and all my classmates went down to highway. What happened to us tomorrow will be allowed to repeat itself. We are all marching shoulder to shoulder chanting slogans. Members of Chhatra League attacked students in many places yesterday. I heard that members of Chhatra League hired gangsters and attacked students, leaving them bleeding. We were attacked by members of the Chhatra League, but it was not that serious. 

Walking with the procession, I was surprised to see everyone running back. What's going on? Why is everyone running? I stood without running. I saw the police pointing guns at us. I was surprised. They should have given us security. Instead of that, they pointed the gun at us? I was not afraid and went forward in front of them. I kept only a stick with me as a weapon. Everyone is standing at a distance. I stood alone in front of the police. I spread my hands and let my chest reach them. When the gun stops, shoot.... we're not afraid of a little shot. 

Bricks were thrown from the police side. I tried to fight it with a stick. Once the police started firing. The sound of gunshots came to the ears. Still not easy. I stayed to get the chest. A bullet hit my body, I realized. But I'm not simple. I don't know what happened to me, but I got a lot of courage. The body's blood warmed. I felt that if I leave today, I will lose to these ghoul. 

Another shot hit the body. I felt hurt. I leaned a little while shooting. But I did not give up. I stood in front of them again. I heard all the students around screaming. Hearing their screams, I feel more strong and got more courage.

The third shot was fired again. I couldn't force myself anymore. I leaned over. Two or three of my classmates came and took me from behind. I can't keep my eyes open anymore. There is no strength in the body. I fell on my classmate. Everything turned black in front of my eyes. My eyes are closed slowly...