Naziruddin Jehad

Najiruddin Jehad (6 September 1969 – 10 October 1990) was an activist of the pro-democracy movement of Bangladesh that led to the 1990 Mass Uprising in Bangladesh. Jehad, the first casualty of the 1990 Mass Uprising in Bangladesh was killed on 10 October due to the police excesses during the first nationwide strike of the full-fledged movement against Ershad in front of Dainik Bangla intersection of capital Dhaka.

His death added fuel to the fire of the full-fledged movement, unified the students of all organisations and led to the fall of Hussain Muhammad Ershad on 4 December 1990. To commemorate his contribution to democracy, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its students wing observe 10 October each year as Shahid Jehad Day.

Early life and education Naziruddin Jehad was born on 6 September 1969, at Nabogram village under Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district to his father K. M. Mahmud and mother Basirunnesa. Mr. Mahmud and Mrs. Basirunnesa had 10 children and among them Jehad was ninth in line. Jehad after passing his SSC and Higher Secondary School Certificate examinations joined Government Akbar Ali College of Sirajganj in 1988.

Another incident of firing took place in front of Jatiya Party office and claimed another three lives when the armed goons of Jatiya Party attacked the BNP rally.

Police tried to snatch away the body of Jehad from the hospital but a large number of doctors led by Shamsul Alam Khan Milon resisted the attempt but failed to save the life of Jehad, who became the first martyr of the uprising.

Shamsul Alam Khan Milon in his diary wrote the incident and recalled what he said before his death. Jehad said:

Aftermath

The death of Naziruddin Jehad enraged the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal and Bangladesh Nationalist Party observe 10 October as Shahid Jehad Dibash (Martyred Jehad Day). Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said The mass upsurge took place in that year on his (Jahed) blood and it ultimately caused Ershad's ouster.

Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal forged an alliance with all other active student organisations in the campus under Sarbadaliya Chatra Oikya Parishad (All-party Students Council) to give a final blow to the Ershad government. This student body played a vital role in paralysing the country within two months and forced Ershad to resign on 4 December 1990.

A monument was built in the Dainik Bangla intersection as Jehad Memorial of the capital Dhaka where Jehad was shot.