36 July: Uprising in Bangladesh | Ep.2 - Making of a Martyr | Al Jazeera Investigates

This is Episode 2 of Al Jazeera's investigative series "36 July: Uprising in Bangladesh," titled "Making of a Martyr." It documents the events of July 16, 2024, at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, when student activist Abu Sayed was shot and killed by police during anti-government protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. The episode centers on Tahidul Hakim (referred to as "Sam" or "CM"), a 24-year-old student journalist who was present that day and conducted three Facebook live streams documenting the confrontation. His footage captured Abu Sayed's iconic final act — standing in the road with arms outstretched challenging police to shoot him — and subsequently his death. Sam himself was shot with 50-60 pellets while filming and carrying Abu Sayed's body, yet continued broadcasting from the hospital. The key themes include the role of citizen journalism and social media in fueling the protest movement, the transformation of Abu Sayed into a national martyr whose image now appears on murals and t-shirts across Bangladesh, and the personal trauma experienced by Sam, who blames himself for being unable to save Abu Sayed despite his bravery in documenting the event.

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YouTube

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YouTube

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ark:/19160/sm6uu3ttp25ebzoseagzvxctnem

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