Syed Altefat Hossain SIDDHIRGANJ (Narayanganj)

Parvez Hawlader, a 25-year-old manager at a gas cylinder supply shop, had warned his family about possible dangers centering the historic “March to Dhaka Programme” called by Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on August 5.

But he himself joined the march ignoring the concerns with a firm determination to throw away the 16-year-long autocratic rule.

The movement, in fact, succeeded in ousting the long-lasting autocracy, but Parvez never returned home, nor he could witness the victory of the cause he fought for. He was shot dead in Jatrabari’s Kajla area while attempting to break through police barricades to reach Shahbagh in the capital city.

A bullet pierced through his left cheek exited through the back side of his head.

“You all joined the movement from the beginning. I never debarred you. But please, don’t join the movement tomorrow. Police will fire bullets like rain tomorrow,” Parvez’s elder sister Selina recalled his last conversation the night before his death when he poked his sister.

Selina, third among Parvez’s five siblings, burst into tears while recounting the memories of her younger brother at their rented house at Nimai Kasari Bazar area of the upazila here. She said her brother was concerned about the safety of the family as all of them were joining the street protest since the beginning of the anti-discrimination student movement.

“We couldn’t tolerate the whimper of the students on the streets. Therefore, we all, including our brothers, sisters and children, took part in the movement,” Selina shared. Recalling Parvez’s deep concerns about the safety of his family members, she said her brother told her, “If you join the movement tomorrow and die, it would be good. But if you sustain injuries leading to disability, you will be a burden on others. Similarly, if your daughter becomes disabled, you could not get her married off”.

At that time, Selina said she also barred him from joining the movement on the next day.
But on the morning of August 5, Parvez left home around 9am, telling his sister he was going out for breakfast.

“Around 10am, my brother called me and asked me to pray for all, saying that a terrible situation was prevailing on the streets. He again asked us not to go outside,” Parvez’s grieving sister said.

“But two hours later, his friend Mohsin arrived at our house with the devastating news—Parvez had been shot and he was taken to Salman Hospital at Shanir Akhra in the capital city,” Selina lamented.

She recalled that when she was rushing to the hospital, she received a call from one of Parvez’s friends who asked her to return home, saying that they were taking Parvez’s body to his home. “Returning home, I found my brother’s lifeless body on a rickshaw-van in front of our house,” weeping Salina recounted the heartbreaking moment.

She said, later, Parvez was laid to his eternal rest at a local graveyard after Asr prayers on the same day.

Being youngest among their siblings, Parvez and his mother were living with the family of Selina while his elder brother Faisal Hawlader, a fish trader, elder sisters- Halima and Roksana- are also living at the same building in separate flats with their families.

The landless and homeless family migrated to the Siddhirganj upazila in Narayanganj from Munshiganj Sadar several decades ago and has been living in rented houses.

Parvez was known for his kindness, always helping those in need. But his life was cut short in the fight for justice. Thus his death cast a shadow of grief over the entire area. While visiting the area, it was observed that locals named a street after the name of Parvez while a banner with his photo and short description was seen hanging overhead at the Nimai Kasari Bazar.

“My brother was a benevolent person. He used to help others,” Selina said, adding her brother had aspirations of going abroad with an overseas job to change their family’s fate.
Parvez’s mother Hasi Begum, who is in her 63's, wailed as this correspondent approached her for some words about her martyred son.

“My son was a caregiver to me. He never let me mourn,” his weeping mother said, remembering how he used to massage her aching body.

Parvez was a devoted son who dreamed of sending his parents to Makkah for Hajj. But after the death of his father Majibur Hawlader 14-month back, he was determined to send his mother to Makkah for Hajj.

“My son had a dream of sending me to Makkah for Hajj. But Sheikh Hasina destroyed everything,” sobbing Hasi said. The morning family, however, demands justice for the loss of Parvez. His mother demanded capital punishment for those responsible for killing Parvez.