An article published by Amar Desh recounts the life and death of Abdul Rakib in the context of the July revolution. Rakib, a 22-year-old young man with an intellectual disability, was born on January 1, 2004, in Muradnagar, Cumilla. According to the article, he actively joined demonstrations in Jatrabari during the July movement and would stand in the front row with Bangladesh’s flag tied to his chest.

The article says Rakib was injured by pellet shots fired by police on July 19, with eyewitnesses claiming at least 50 pellets struck his back. It says he nevertheless continued to join the movement. The account states that the outstretched arms of Abu Sayed inspired him, and that Rakib would spread his own arms before police gunfire and say, “I have bared my chest, shoot.”

On August 5, during the “Long March to Dhaka” programme, his family tried to prevent him from leaving because of his health and the continuing violence. The article says he broke a lock using a brick he carried and joined the procession. Eyewitness accounts cited in the piece say he was shot during firing from atop the Jatrabari police station building at 2 p.m. and died on the street.