Martyr’s Grant Sparks Family Dispute Over Father’s Second Marriage

A family in Ishwarganj, Mymensingh, has become the centre of public debate after allegations emerged that the father of a young man killed during the July Mass Uprising used government compensation awarded to the martyr’s family to finance a second marriage. The allegations have been firmly denied by the accused, who insists that the marriage was funded entirely from his personal income.

The controversy involves Mohammad Abdul Matin, the father of Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin, who was killed during the student-led movement in July 2024. Abdul Matin, who works as a sales manager at a private company in Motijheel, Dhaka, is accused of marrying for a second time without the consent of his first wife, Mumtaz Begum, 45. The couple have a 10-year-old daughter, while Shahriar was their only son.

According to family members and local residents, Shahriar was critically injured on 18 July 2024 after being shot near the Mirpur-10 roundabout in Dhaka while participating in the anti-discrimination student movement. The bullet reportedly entered beside his right eye and passed through his head. Despite receiving medical treatment, he died on 20 July. His death later earned him recognition as one of the martyrs of the July Mass Uprising.

Local sources allege that Abdul Matin married for a second time on 29 May, spending Tk 700,000 on the marriage contract and around Tk 525,000 on gold jewellery. They claim the money came from government financial assistance provided to the family following Shahriar’s death. However, no official investigation has publicly confirmed that allegation.

Mumtaz Begum says she was devastated not only by the loss of her son but also by her husband’s decision to remarry without her knowledge or consent. She claims her husband lacked the financial capacity to afford such an expensive wedding and believes the government grant intended for the martyr’s family was used instead.

She further alleges that Abdul Matin had been pressuring her to agree to a second marriage ever since the first anniversary of their son’s death approached. According to her, he repeatedly argued that he needed another marriage to preserve his family lineage.

The dispute has had a profound emotional impact on the family. Relatives say that after learning about the second marriage on 2 June, Mumtaz Begum became so distressed that she decided to take her own life along with their young daughter. Family members intervened in time and prevented the tragedy.

Mumtaz Begum has also made a series of additional allegations against her husband. She claims he attempted to exploit their son’s status as a July martyr for personal financial gain and became involved in fraudulent activities despite repeated objections from family members. She further alleges that he once tried to withdraw the one-off government allocation of Tk 3 million intended for the martyr’s family by forging her signature, although she says the attempt failed because she became aware of it in time.

Expressing concern about her future, she said she now worries most about raising her young daughter alone and has appealed for justice over the allegations she has brought against her husband.

Abdul Matin has rejected all accusations. He maintains that his second marriage was a personal decision taken to continue his family line and says he acted largely at the request of his elderly mother. He also insists that his first wife had initially given her consent before later denying it.

He further states that his employment provides him with sufficient financial means and that he had no need to use government compensation awarded after his son’s death to pay for the marriage. According to Abdul Matin, he visited his first wife several times after the marriage in an attempt to reconcile and also wished to see his daughter. He claims he was repeatedly turned away and humiliated. He says efforts are now under way to resolve the dispute through mutual understanding.

The allegations have fuelled widespread discussion throughout the local community, with some residents claiming Abdul Matin’s financial circumstances improved significantly within a short period. Others have also accused him of using his late son’s name in various activities, allegations that remain unproven.

Former central coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Al Noor Ayas, described the matter as deeply unfortunate. He said he found the reports difficult to accept, arguing that a father who genuinely cherished the memory of his martyred son could have continued caring for his surviving daughter instead of choosing another marriage.

No official authority has yet announced the findings of any investigation into whether government compensation intended for the martyr’s family was used to finance the second marriage. As a result, the case remains one of allegation and counter-allegation, with both sides standing firmly by their respective claims.