That afternoon, 21-year-old Md. Tamim Abdullah had rice with mashed potatoes, red spinach, and muri ghonto (a fish and rice dish). After eating a bit of rice mixed with red spinach, he left, telling his mother he would eat the rest when he returned.
The previous day, Tamim had been injured by birdshot that hit his leg. When his mother told him not to go out, Tamim reassured her, saying, “I’ll be back soon.” But about an hour later, his mother, Tanzil, received the devastating news that her son had been shot. After that, Tamim’s friends, family, and strangers took him from hospital to hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life. On August 5, the day Sheikh Hasina’s government was overthrown, Tamim was shot during a victory rally. Four days later, he died in the hospital.
In critical situations, the term “golden hour” is often used, referring to the first 60 minutes after an injury when prompt medical treatment can increase the chances of survival. Tamim’s mother regrets that crucial time was wasted as he was taken from one hospital to another, leading to significant blood loss. She believes that if Tamim hadn’t lost so much blood, he might have survived.
Tamim was a student of computer science and engineering at the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT). He was hit in the chest by random gunfire from the police during the victory rally. On August 10, he passed away in the ICU at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. After losing her husband four years earlier, Tamim’s mother was waiting for her son to finish his education.
On August 27, at Tamim’s family home in Block H, Mirpur 2, we spoke with his mother. The one-story house, sandwiched between two multi-story buildings, is part of the family’s ancestral property. Tamim’s father was the only son, and now his mother lives there with her children. They rent out five of the seven rooms to manage the family’s finances.
Now, the family consists of Tamim’s mother, two sisters, and his two beloved pet cats, “Brownie Baby” and “Tiger.” After Tamim’s death, his dear cat Brownie Baby sniffed Tamim’s pants and cried all night long.
“Mom, you should join the protest too”
Tamim was the eldest of three siblings. His younger sisters, Fatema Tasnim (15) and Khadija Nusrat (9), are madrasa students. Their father, Md. Abul Hossain (46), was a scorer for the Bangladesh Cricket Board. He passed away from a heart attack in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tamim’s mother, Tanzil, told Prothom Alo that her son had a close, friend-like relationship with his father. After his father’s sudden death, Tamim felt a greater sense of responsibility toward his mother and sisters. He was determined to finish his education and support the family.
Tamim graduated from Shaheed Police Smriti College in Mirpur and enrolled in computer science and engineering at BUBT in 2022. He had just completed his third semester.
His mother said that Tamim had been involved in protests with his classmates from BUBT from the very beginning. He attended the rallies daily, but she was always worried about his safety. One day, when Tamim was about to leave, he asked his mother to join the protest with him, saying, “Mom, you should come to the protest too.” She replied, “Your father isn’t here. If something happens to us, who will take care of your sisters?” In response, Tamim said, “God will take care of them. You just come with me.” When his mother refused, he became frustrated and said, “Mom, you never protest against injustice, and now you won’t let me either.”
Tanzil mentioned that the police and local Awami League workers clashed several times with students in Mirpur. On July 19 and 20, the area turned into a battleground, with clashes even spilling into their own alley. Tear gas filled the streets, creating a thick fog. During these times, she was constantly worried about her son being out in the protests. One day, after Tamim was injured by police baton strikes, he didn’t tell his mother. It wasn’t until the next day, when he winced in pain trying to get up, that his mother realized he had been hurt.
On August 4, Tamim came home with a bandaged leg. That’s when his mother found out that he had been hit by birdshot in the leg, which had been removed at a local clinic.
From Hospital to Hospital
During the entire conversation with Tamim’s mother, neighbor Hajera Chowdhury was present. In this close-knit neighborhood, everyone is like family. Hajera, who lives across the street, had known Tamim since he was born. “Just like his father, Abul Bhai, if you asked Tamim anything, he’d always give a big smile first before answering,” Hajera recalled.
She heard from Tamim’s friends that when the police started shooting from Mirpur Model Police Station during the victory rally, Tamim was separated from his friends. A stranger rescued him from the street. This person told her that after the shooting started, Tamim had taken shelter behind a pole. When the shooting seemed to stop, he stood up, but that’s when he was shot in the chest, on both the left and right sides. Doctors later told the family that his lungs had been pierced in three places. One of the bullets had passed through, but the other remained lodged in his chest. Tamim lay in the street for a long time before the stranger took him to a local clinic. But the clinic informed them that they didn’t have ICU facilities and referred them to another hospital. Eventually, he was taken to Kurmitola General Hospital. When Tamim’s friends called his phone, the stranger answered and asked them to come to the hospital to donate blood.
Tamim’s mother said her son left the house around 3 p.m. and was shot shortly afterward. She learned of the incident at around 4:30 p.m. Tamim had been taken to Kurmitola Hospital by then. The doctors there said his condition was critical and referred him to the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH) in Mohakhali. He was taken there around 6 p.m., where surgeons removed the bullet from his lung. However, his condition worsened, and at 2:30 a.m., he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Four days later, Tamim passed away there.
His mother lamented that after her husband’s death, their lives had become chaotic, but she found strength in her children. Despite financial difficulties, she worked hard to raise them. Her only regret is that Tamim was shot at the very end of the movement. She wonders, after all their struggles, why her son couldn’t live to celebrate the victory.
