Arisha Afroza left Dinajpur, her home town, in August 2013 with her son Ashikul Islam, who was then three years old, after she had refused to put the child in the custody of her abusive husband and to marry someone else that her family demanded.
Determined to make life safe for Ashikul, Arisha Afroza, who was then only 20, severed ties her family and moved to Dhaka.
But all her efforts fell through on July 19, 2024, when Ashikul, then 14 years old, died in police firing about 6:00pm in front of their house on Road 1 at Banasree amidst a clash that broke out over protests for reforms in civil service job reservations.
鈥楢 bullet tore through my son鈥檚 right ear. Who are they to snatch my son from my life? I raised him on my own. Now, he鈥檚 gone,鈥� Arisha said in a trembling voice as she spoke on August 2.
鈥業 found him lying lifeless at a private hospital near by about 9:00pm. The hospital didn鈥檛 even give me a death certificate fearing reprisal that it might face,鈥� she lamented.
Like Ashikul, at least 218 people, including children and students, died mostly in attacks on the protesters, banded as Students against Discrimination, by ruling party people and law enforcers in Dhaka and elsewhere in July 16鈥揂ugust 3.
Recalling the day, Arisha said that they had an invitation for lunch at Road 4 in the neighbourhood that day.
As the violence intensified after the asr prayers, Ashikul repeatedly urged his mother to step out into the alley to see what was happening.
Moments later, he stepped outside only to find himself in a horrifying scene: four to five people, struck with bullet, were lying on the ground.
鈥楶anicked, he might have rushed home. He was standing near the gate with a few others when a bullet ended his life, too,鈥� Arisha said. Law enforcers entered the area firing bullets and stun grenades that night while road lights were all off.
Arisha had made a living from various jobs in apparel units before she opened her own tailoring shop in her neighbourhood in 2022.
Ashik, who used to help his mother to run the shop, had dreamt of becoming a fashion designer, going to Italy for further studies and supporting the family. But the dream fell through.
鈥楬e was a meritorious student. Only I know what I lost,鈥� Arisha wailed.
She married again towards the end of 2020. She now has a boy child, three months old, who was dear to Ashikul.