Farhan Faiyaaz | One of the youngest martyr of Quota Movement of BD

 

One day, you'll leave this world behind. So live a life you will remember." -- Farhan Faiyaaz

                                               

In a heartbreaking video that went viral on Facebook on Thursday, a woman was seen breaking down upon discovering the body of 17-year-old Farhan Faiyaaz at Mohammadpur's City Hospital. A first-year HSC student at Dhaka Residential Model College (DRMC), Faiyaaz lost his life during clashes between protesters and ruling party activists in Dhanmondi.

His aunt, Nazia Khan, tearfully expressed, "He was more than a son to me… He is dead now…."

The video quickly spread across social media, igniting calls for justice for the young life cut short. Faiyaaz’s teachers remembered him as a bright and courteous student.

“He was quiet and reserved, beloved by all his classmates and teachers. Even when we had to scold him, he never responded with anger,” said DRMC Assistant Professor Md Nazrul Islam, who also taught chemistry. He noted that Faiyaaz never engaged in conflicts with peers, despite not being a regular student due to health issues.

Faiyaaz had lived with his grandmother in Japan Garden City before moving in with his father in Kakrail a few months prior. Munzareen Shahid, a teacher from 10-Minute School, shared a photo of herself with Faiyaaz on Facebook, expressing her disbelief over the loss of such a promising student: “He was my student… He wasn’t even 18! ... He has died!”

In mourning, current and former DRMC students changed their Facebook profile pictures to black as a sign of protest against his killing. They used various hashtags to demand justice for all victims of violence against quota reform protesters and called for accountability for those responsible.

Many criticized the law enforcement's response to the protests, suggesting that the attacks were intended to suppress the movement.