Mehedi Hasan
Details
Mehedi Hasan
Journalist
Dhaka Times
Date of Death : 18th July, 2024
Hasan Mehedi was a journalist for the online media outlet Dhaka Times 24. He was killed by police bullets fired by police during clashes between quota reform activists and police on the afternoon of 18 July 2024 while performing his professional duties. When the news of his death spread, it raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the killing was condemned by the media and the general public. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]
Personal life
[ edit ]Hasan Mehedi was born in Hosnabad village, Baufal upazila, Patuakhali district . His father was Mosharraf Hossain and mother was Mahmuda Begum. Mehedi was the eldest of his parents' three children. His two younger brothers were students. Hasan's wife is Farhana Islam Popi, and he is the father of two daughters. His three-year-old eldest daughter is Maymuna Binte Nisha and his ten-month-old younger daughter is Meherash. Mehedi lived with his family in a rented house in Keraniganj , Dhaka, due to his work in the media. [ 4 ] [ 5 ]
His role and death in the 2024 quota reform movement
[ edit ]On 18 July 2024, journalist Hasan Mehdi was shot dead in the Jatrabari area of Dhaka while actively participating in and performing his professional duties in support of the quota reform movement . That afternoon, police took up positions near the Mayor Hanif Flyover in an armored vehicle, leading to a police chase and counter-chase with protesting students. Mehdi was shot during the clash. A student present at the scene rescued Mehdi and informed his family. Mehdi was initially taken to several local hospitals, but as they were closed, he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital . Upon reaching the hospital, it was found that he had serious shrapnel wounds to his chest and hand, and he died in the evening. His death was strongly condemned in various media outlets in Bangladesh and sparked widespread public outrage across the country. [ 6 ] [ 7 ]
Legend
[ edit ]Hasan Mehdi was a student of the degree course at Government Suhrawardy College in the academic year 2014–15 . To pay tribute to his memory and commemorate his sacrifice, the auditorium of Government Suhrawardy College has been renamed "Shaheed Journalist Hasan Mehdi Auditorium". [ 8 ] The name change was approved after a petition signed by the students was submitted to the Vice-Principal of the college. In addition, his workplace Dhaka Times 2024.com has created a special category named "Hasan Mehdi" to honour him, where several news and features have been published about him.
