Seventeen-year-old Shafiq Uddin Ahmed Ahnaf, a student of BAF Shaheen College, lost his life after being shot during a violent clash in the student-led revolution. The incident occurred on August 4, during the movement demanding the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
According to Ahnaf’s mother, Zartaj Parveen Shafiq, her son was struck by a bullet around 5pm that day.
"From the very beginning of the protests, Ahnaf would join the students. He never listened to us when we asked him to stay away. He had already been injured before by tear gas and rubber bullets, but that didn’t stop him from going back," the grieving mother said, recounting her son’s unwavering commitment to the cause.
On the morning of August 4, Ahnaf contacted his friends as soon as he woke up, preparing to join the protest despite his mother’s pleas. "I told him he absolutely couldn't go out that day and asked him to join me for the long march the next day instead. But he insisted, saying he had to go. After lunch, he left without telling me," she recalled.
Ahnaf had a passion for playing guitar and football. "That day, he was supposed to return home and play music with his cousin," Zartaj added, her voice breaking.
Throughout the day, she kept calling her son to check on him. "He answered my calls and said he was at 60 Feet in Dhaka. He assured me he was safe. But when I called again 30 minutes later, he said he was at Mirpur 10. I was worried because he had promised not to go there. I reminded him that a curfew was about to start, but he kept saying he was safe."
Zartaj’s growing concern turned into panic when her calls went unanswered around 5pm.
"Ahnaf would always pick up on the first ring. When his friends said they had already left the area, I knew something was wrong. My husband and I rushed to Mirpur 10. By then, someone had shared a photo on Facebook. One of Ahnaf's friends sent it to our WhatsApp group. I recognised my son’s lifeless body and fainted on the spot," she recounted, her voice trembling.
Ahnaf was first taken to Islami Bank Hospital before being transferred to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, where his body was later found in the morgue.
Nazia Ahmed, Ahnaf’s aunt, shared that Ahnaf had once said, "My name will be written in history in golden letters. The world will know you because of me." Now, in a tragic twist, people do reach out to them because of Ahnaf.
"Teachers from his school and college have come to offer prayers. The college has honoured us. But we have one request: the six coordinators of the quota reform movement should visit Ahnaf's mother, just once, to acknowledge her loss," she said.
