Al Amin, a 29-year-old youth, was found dead in the morgue of Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital 13 days after he went missing. He had been shot during a victory rally on August 5, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Al Amin had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, where he lived with his family. Four months ago, he started a grocery business with his father in Savar’s Baipal area. His family had been searching for him since he was shot, only to find his body in the hospital morgue last Saturday.
Al Amin was the son of Ismail Mirmalat and Ziasmin Begum, residents of South Magra village in Naria Upazila, Shariatpur. His parents are devastated by the loss of their son.
Yesterday, members of the Shariatpur-based organization “Juktik Ahban” brought Al Amin’s body to the district town. They met with District Commissioner Muhammad Nizam Uddin Ahmed and Superintendent of Police Mahbubul Alam, demanding that Al Amin be recognized as a martyr, be buried with state honors, and that his family be compensated.
Al Amin’s family shared that Ismail Mirmalat had lived in Saudi Arabia with his wife, three sons, and a daughter. All but Al Amin returned to Bangladesh a year ago. Al Amin returned four months ago. On August 5, he left home around 4 PM to join the victory rally, where he was shot. Local residents took him to Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital, where he passed away the next day. With his family unable to locate him, his body was kept in the morgue as an unidentified corpse.
Last Friday, after seeing a news report, Al Amin’s younger sister, Aflan Cynthia, went to Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital. On Saturday, she identified her brother’s body. He was buried that night following a funeral in their village.
Aflan Cynthia expressed her grief, saying, “We grew up in Saudi Arabia and don’t understand the politics of this country. My brother lost his life due to this dirty politics. Our parents had planned to arrange his wedding in December, but that dream is now shattered. We want him to be honored as a martyr.”
Ismail Mirmalat, Al Amin’s father, shared his anguish with Prothom Alo, saying, “My son’s body lay unclaimed in the hospital morgue for 12 days. As a father, I cannot express the pain I feel. Who can I turn to for justice for my son’s death?”
Superintendent of Police Mahbubul Alam stated, “We are deeply saddened by this young man’s death. His family and an organization have presented some demands. We will implement what can be done within the law, and we will always stand by the family with the support of the local administration.”
