Khandakar Abdul Malek Shahidullah was only seventeen in 1952 when the wave of protests during the Language Movement shook the country.  

That same year, ninth-grader Shahidullah and eight other students of his school, Cooperative High School in Jamalpur's Dewanganj, were expelled by the authorities for taking part in a procession in Dewanganj town along with a number of other students.

Endorsed by his father, a medical officer of railway in the town, young Shahidullah stood defiant and rejected the offer of reinstatement of his student status at the school by seeking clemency to the school authorities.

The defiant Language Movement veteran went on to become a member of the provincial assembly in 1970 and later on, an organiser of the Liberation War in 1971. When the country's first president Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam was president of Awami League's Greater Mymensingh unit, Shahidullah served as the organising secretary of the unit. 

At 85 years of age, this national hero now has nothing but the freedom fighter's monthly allowance to support his family, residing in Nandibari area of Muktagachha town in Mymensingh, and cover for his medical expenses due to multiple brain strokes that he suffered last year.

Shahidullah's right arm and leg became paralysed after the first stroke in October, 2019 and he became completely bedridden after the second stroke two months later, on December 13, said his wife Suraiya Malek.

After he suffered the last stroke, he was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital from where he was released 10 days later.

Along with other longstanding health conditions, including respiratory and heart diseases, Shahidullah has been suffering from speech impediment since the last stroke.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the government's handling of the national heroes of the country, Suraiya said it is beyond imagination that a language movement hero of the country is left in such a miserable state. 

"It is beyond our capacity to ensure better treatment for him as the family mainly depends on his monthly freedom fighter's allowance. The government should take responsibility of Shahidullah's treatment."  

Khandakar Monjur Malek Sudipta, the youngest son of Shahidullah, said, "On various occasions, we sought national recognition for his contribution to the Language Movement as well as to the Liberation War, but no one paid heed."

It is painful to watch that a national hero like Shahidullah is passing days without proper treatment while his family members cannot afford better treatment for him, said Abul Kashem, former commander of Muktijoddha Sangsad's Muktagachha upazila unit.

Shahidullah was active in social work from a young age and he never pursued affluence for himself or his family, Kashem lamented.

Contacted, Muktagachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Suborna Sarker, also administrator of Muktijoddha Sangsad in the upazila, said she visited Shahidullah recently and the government will provide urgent financial assistance for the language movement veteran.