Sheikh Azizur Rahman, who survived a gunshot wound during the July 2024 mass uprising, on Thursday fulfilled a long-cherished wish by presenting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the blood-stained national flag he used to stem the bleeding after being shot in the head.

The meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office at the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to a press release issued by the PM's Press Wing.

Azizur had long hoped to hand over the flag to the prime minister. During the meeting, he presented the blood-soaked flag that he had wrapped around his head after sustaining the gunshot wound.

Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said the meeting was arranged after Tarique Rahman came across a recent media report claiming that Azizur had not been recognised as a July movement fighter because of his affiliation with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.

The prime minister subsequently instructed the authorities concerned to look into the matter.

During the meeting, Tarique Rahman listened to Azizur's account of the incident and enquired about his medical treatment, education and current circumstances.

He also learned that Azizur has been driving a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw to support himself and continue his studies.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, Azizur suffered a gunshot wound to the head and 36 bullet splinter injuries across different parts of his body during the uprising. To stop the bleeding, he wrapped the national flag around his head, leaving it soaked in blood.

Speaking after the meeting, Azizur said he was overwhelmed to have met the prime minister.

"I had always wanted to hand this flag to the Prime Minister. Today that wish has come true. I cannot express my feelings in words," he said.

Azizur is a second-year honours student in the Department of Social Work at Government Bangla College and a member of the convening committee of the college unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. He hails from Lohagara upazila in Narail.

He came into the spotlight during the July 2024 movement after carrying the national flag on the Mirpur-10 flyover before being critically injured in police firing.

Police arrested Azizur on 19 July 2024. He was released two days later after spending two days on remand.

He has since been driving a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw to support his family and finance his education, and is yet to receive official recognition as a July movement fighter.