The flecked bullet tore apart not only the throat of Hridoy Chandra Taruya, a brave warrior of July 2024 Anti-Discrimination Student Movement cum historic uprising , but at the same time had shattered long-cherished dream of his poor parents.
Hridoy Chandra Taruya, an honours 3rd year student of History Department of Chattogram University (CU), was only son of poor carpenter Ratan Chandra Taruya and mother Archana Rani of Andua Village under Mirzaganj Upazila in Patuakhali District.
A poisonous bullet had entered one side of 22-year-old Hridoy's throat and ended other side tearing apart his entire vocal track when law-enforcers and ousted ruling Awami League (AL) patronised armed goons made indiscriminate firing on protesters on July 18 last year at Bahadderhat intersection - one of the hotspot of the port city during the July-August uprising.
Growing hopes and dream for a bright future of Ratan and Archana were enfolded centring their only son Hridoy as they had been waiting to see that extraordinary meritorious Hridoy would soon become a government officer after completion of his honours degree through BCS exam.
Tarua along with hundreds of comrades joined the protest and during the day-long tense situation at Sholashahar to Bahadderhat point, a bullet hit at Hridoy's throat during series of attack by police and armed cadres of the then ruling AL at 4 pm on July 4 last year.
He was immediately taken to the Chattogram Medical College Hospital and then, shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as his condition was deteriorating rapidly. After five-days of struggle with life, he surrendered to death finally ending all the hopes of his beloved father and mother.
Grief-stricken Ratan said, "My beloved son got GPA-5 in both SSC and HSC exams. He had to face serious hardship for continuing his study as I would not have enough money to bear his educational expenses."
Ratan again said, "I had dreamt of a lot with a hope that my son would be a big officer and persistent struggle with poverty ended a day."
"Now my time is passing by wandering and looking at cremation spot of my beloved son," said Ratan Taruya.
"Do not worry Baba; just wait for some more days. You do not have to work hard any more. I will take the responsibility of my family and work for our happiness," Mitu Rani, elder sister of Hridoy said with emotion-choked voices recalling the words of promise Hridoy used to say his parents.
Mitu Rani said her father and mother were exited much after Hridoy got chance to admit at CU and entertained relatives and neighbours with sweets.
"My mother used to work part-time as housemaid at neighbours' houses, because poor earnings of my father were not enough to run our family. Even, Hridoy felt shy to demand money from father for his study and started managing his expenses by engaging himself with part-time tuition," Mitu said narrating their poverty-stricken life-cycle.
Sakib Mahmud Rumi, a close-friend of Hridoy Taruya, got emotional when he was asked to recall the memories and say something about Hridoy.
"The Bengali word 'Hridoy' means 'Heart'. Martyred Hridoy Taruya was a real heart to his parents who never gave up dreaming of their son Taruya's bright future after completing his education and would help ends the persisting misery of daily life," Rumi said.
Taruya might be perceived that discriminatory quota system in getting into public service was one of the big hurdles that would bar him in fulfilling his parent's dream.
Not fully agreeing with the observation, Rumi said, "It might be a general perception. Hard fact is that thousands of youth, students, and general masses like Hridoy Taruya jumped into the July-August uprising even after witnessing cruel atrocities of fascist regime was not for pity-personal interest but to end the injustice, ensure legal rights and dignity of countrymen."
"If the discriminatory quota system existed, Hridoy might not get government job but his efforts to reform discriminatory quota system snatched both his life and dream," Rumi observed.
Rasel Ahmed , central coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, termed Hridoy Trauya as an active participants in the movement and recalled the supreme sacrifice of his comrade with deep respect saying, "Only one killer bullet he received on Bahdderhat area on July 18, last year had shattered his poor parent's dream of their beloved son's bright future."
Now Rantan Taruya's only desire is to ensure exemplary punishments of those who are responsible for gruesome killing of innocent students, people like his son.
"What is the wrong in joining a movement for just cause? Rising voice against corruption, injustice and irregularities can be treated as a crime?" anguished Ratan Taruya questioned.
Ratan Chandra Taruya, the proud father of martyred Hridoy Chandra Taruya has placed a humble appeal to the government of Professor Muhammad Yunus to stand besides the families of martyrs with all-possible support and not to forget their self-sacrifices who rewrite golden history for the nation at the cost of their lives. —BSS
