Abdul Matin's family is very tense. Motaleb was the eldest among three sons and daughters in a family of poverty. A school-going boy was also the father's tool to fulfill his dreams. Motaleb's dream was to finish his studies and become established and take care of the family.

But on August 4, Abdul Motaleb (14), an eighth grade student, was shot dead by the police in an anti-discrimination student-public movement at Jigatla bus stand in the capital, and the family's dream was broken forever.

Motaleb was a resident of Ghazmahal Lane in Hazaribagh and his family moved to Dhaka from Noakhali in 2017. Motaleb's father, Abdul Mateen, dreamed of educating his son and leading the world. But that dream was shattered forever by Motaleb's death in police firing.

Motaleb's mother, Jahanara Begum, still cannot forget that fateful day. He said, I didn't let my son leave the house all day, in the afternoon I went to buy pulses in the market, I came back and saw that my son was not at home. Later in the evening I rushed to Shikdar Medical after seeing the bloodied picture of my son through a friend. But I didn't find him there either. After going to Dhaka Medical, I did not recognize the son's body at first, but later I was able to identify it.

Jahanara Begum said, I still can't sleep at night, I see my son in my dreams. My eldest son protested and told his classmates, 'If I die, deliver the body to my mother.'

He also said, 'My son joined the movement with the students. Sometimes he would say, 'Mother, my elder brothers are being killed, no one is doing anything. It would be better if I stayed.'

Motaleb's mother said, "My son has become a martyr for the country, I can now understand how much patriotism he had."

Motaleb's father Abdul Matin said, I went to work that morning. In the evening I heard that my son had been shot. Later I went to Dhaka Medical and identified my son's body by showing my voter ID card and took it home. I wanted to raise my son, he was the only hope of the world. Still can't go to work properly. His face always flashed in front of my eyes.

Motaleb's teacher, Noor Jamal Haque, was active in the Motaleb movement. According to him, last August 4 was a terrible day. Awami League and Chhatra League workers opened fire on the student crowd from the Awami League office at Dhanmondi number 3. Motaleb was then staying on the other side of the party office. He was shot in the chest shortly before evening and taken to Shikdar Medical by his classmates. Later, when he was sent to Dhaka Medical, the doctors on duty declared him dead.

Motaleb's death has left his family in deep mourning. Family members are constantly breaking down over the memory of their lost son. No one has yet extended their helping hand.

A promising life ended with Motaleb's untimely death, an irreparable loss to his family.