Return of the patriarch from the jaws of death

The highest honour of Bangladesh was due to those heroes of the soil who had created sever panic in the hearts of the Pakistani civil servant in Dhaka. it now seems imperative that the voice of thunder that raised fear in the heart of Tikka Khan should be raised again

My career as civil servant spanning for more than three decades started with Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra at Kalurghat, Chittagong on March 26, 1971. For obvious reasons, in the initial period of 9 months of the liberation war of my service I had to move from one place to another with the shifting of the radio transmitter of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra which finally was set up at Baligonj, Calcutta. Twice in a week I used to broadcast two features, "Ranaangan Ghure Elam" and "Muktanchal Ghure Elam" based on war situation over this radio. And now I would like to present some facts before our people, particularly to those born after the liberation war.

In the beginning of the liberation war I was in Chittagong studying in Bengali Hons class in Chittagong University. During my education career I was involved with journalism serving the daily Azadi of Chittagong as a Reporter and University Correspondent of the national daily Ittefaq. I was also associated with Chittagong radio as a regular talker of students programmes.

On one of those days of the liberation war, the non-Bengali CSP officers were found rushing to the room of the senior Assistant Secretary of the Appointments Transfer section of the Establishment Division. On that wintry morning around eleven O'clock, the martyr hero Rumi (son of Shaheed mother Jahanara Imam) and Maya had at the risk of their lives blasted several bombs to demolish the DIT building not far from the Secretariat. The Secretariat, Motijheel and Bangabhaban areas trembled intermittently with the bomb blasts. These blasts made the Pakistani CSP and other Pakistani officers shiver to their backbones. They were weeping for their lives. Officials of even of the rank of Additional Secretaries knocked the door of Mr. Matin to request to initiate notes for their transfer to West Pakistan. Out of fear at the bomb blast, a Deputy Secretary from Punjab had to give way even to his bowel motion on the very sofa he was sitting on and had to be shifted to the circuit house with screens wrapped around his hip. It all happened in the room of Mr. Abdul Matin Khan. Mr. Matin was subjected to gross injustice and ill-treatment during the Ershad regime and had to go on pre-matured retirement as Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Finance in 1988.

The highest honour of Bangladesh was due to those heroes of the soil who had created severe panic in the hearts of the Pakistani civil servant in Dhaka. It now seems imperative that the voice of thunder that raised fear in the heart of Tikka Khan should be raised again. General Tikka Khan had told me of this in 1988.

I attended the 4th SAARC Summit in Islamabad on December 30, 1988 along with a team of journalists from Bangladesh. I spotted Tikka Khan seated in the VIP row at the conference. After much effort, I managed an interview with him at the Governor’s House, Lahore, on December 31 evening. Myself and Rezaur Rahman, editor of the weekly, ‘Akhoney Shamoy’ and TV presenter on law and court, together went to the Punjab Governor’s House at the appointed time and the interview was held without any rancour.

I published the first part of that rare interview in Daily Janakantha on December 16, 1993, which again was published in my book, ‘Muktijuddya Hridaye Mamo’ in 1995. Although I intended to publish the second part of the interview in my next book, but since it is getting late, I now make it public through this article. Besides Rezaur Rahman and I, the private secretary to the Governor was present at the interview. My questions were in English, but Gen. Tikka Khan replied in Urdu.

With reference to my earlier discussion in Karachi with Mr. Habib Khan Ghouri, Secretary General of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Mr. Nisar Usmany, leader of the Karachi Journalists Union and a noted journalist of Pakistan, I asked General Tikka Khan: “Mr. Ghouri and Mr. Nisar Usmany told me that common people of West Pakistan did not support the military action in East Pakistan in 1971. After more than two decades do you still think that the action taken at that time was justified, Sir?”

General Tikka Khan replied: “Regarding ’71 crisis, some people held the Army responsible and some others, the politicians of Pakistan. Holding the same view, there were many leaders of Bangladesh who were with us. The general public of Bangladesh also held the view that we were on the right track. Neither Mr. Golam Azam of the Jamaat and the Muslim League nor the general people ever said that we did anything wrong.”

Question: "When did you exactly start the genocide in Dhaka, Sir?"

General Tikka : “There was no genocide at all. I had secret information that at the Jagannath Hall some anti-state elements were preparing themselves to launch in attack on the army patrol force. I sent some forces them to the Jagannath Hall. It is true that during the gun-fire some Hindus got killed. After that, skirmishes continued regularly in which our men as well as members of the Muktibahini were killed. When two groups fight each other face-to-face that is not a genocide.

Tikka Khan’s reply surprised us beyond comprehension and we, myself and Rezaur Rahman, looked side-eyed at each other’s face. I stole a glance at his slim, well-built Private Secretary who was them standing by our side to find our if he too had believed the brazen lies of his master, General Tikka Khan. It seemed, he too, was equally surprised, and felt embarrassed at what General Tikka Khan had said about the genocide. For, everyone knows that at the order given initially by Tikka Khan to begin with Pak Army had killed lakhs of people in Bangladesh. A commission was also set-up in Pakistan to investigate this issue and the commission had recommended court martial on specific charges of genocide and rape, although the recommendations were not implemented.

According to General Tikka Khan, he did not order genocide on 26th March. “If so, why did you arrest Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from his Dhanmondi residence,” I asked him.

General Tikka Khan : “My COD (Co-ordination Officer) brought to me a three band radio and told me to listen to the broadcast which said that Sheikh Mujib Saheb had given a call for independence. Personally, I heard Sheikh Saheb declaring independence, for I knew his voice so well. That declaration was the reason and so, I, as the then supreme authority of East Pakistan, I had to arrest him, there being no other alternative.”

Question: “If Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had gone to India along with Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed what you would have done, Sir”?

General Tikka Khan, “I knew very well that a leader of his stature would never go away leaving behind his countrymen. I would have made a thorough search in every house and road in Dhaka to find out Sheikh Mujib. I had no intention to arrest leaders like Tajuddin Ahmed and others. That is why they could leave Dhaka so easily.”

But Tikka Khan said in a very firm voice that in case we had failed to arrest Sheikh Mujib on that very night, he (General Tikka Khan) and his force would have inflicted a mortal blow at each home in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh. It is true that in order to arrest Sheikh Mujib they would not have left a single home unsearched. During the long nine months, they killed 3 million people, but had they been unable to arrest Sheikh Mujib on 25th March, they would have killed 3 crore people in nine days in revenge.

But history is the witness, so also the people of the world that Sheikh Mujib had saved the Bangladesh people from a catastrophe. At road no. 32, Dhanmondi, Dhaka he was waiting to risk his life only to save his fellow countrymen from the wrath of Tikka, showing great courage. For no one knew if he would be killed or arrested on that fateful night.

Question: “When the political discussion was going on between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and President Yahya Khan why, sir, did you think it necessary to bring thousands of Pak Army to East Pakistan from West Pakistan?”

Tikka Khan: “My Army was only carrying their routine job. The movement of the Army was carried out as per normal routine requirement.”

Question: “Don’t you think yourself responsible for the break-up of Pakistan caused by the army action on 25 March in the former East Pakistan?”

Tikka Khan: “President Yahya Khan had already announced that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would become the Prime Minister, I was confident that this announcement would make Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the entire Bangali people very happy. This was precisely due to the fact that a real Bengali leader was to become Prime Minister of Pakistan. But some extremists young Turks pressurized Sheikh Mujib to become head of a region instead of the whole of Pakistan. Student fronts working on India’s directives created an untoward situation. When all the people of five regions were expecting Sheikh Mujib as their Prime Minister then why he should  become head or prime Minister only of a region of the country? I surmise that some extremist student leaders of East Pakistan and some leaders of West Pakistan were responsible for not allowing Sheikh Mujib to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan.’’

Question: “Then whom do you consider responsible for such a blood-bath and human tragedy in Bangladesh in ’71?”

Tikka Khan: “Student leaders in East Pakistan and Tajuddin Ahmed were responsible for the break-up of the country. Some leaders of West Pakistan too were responsible for the break-up.”

Question: “Sir, will you please name them.”

Tikka Khan: Now I cannot disclose their names. When the time comes I will disclose.”

Question: “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the elected leader of the majority people of Pakistan and commanded majority in the Pakistan Parliament. Then why did you take him in custody, and how do you explain your position?”

Tikka Khan: “Of the total telephone calls I made to West Pakistan since my appointment as Governor of East Pakistan, 80 per cent calls were made to know about his welfare and arrangements taken for his comfort. I also talked to the former Governor of East Pakistan Azam Khan and other former Governors of East Pakistan too. I was confident that without Sheikh Mujib no compromise would be possible. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and all other top brass in the army knew it quite well.”

Question: “Why did you dig grave beside his prison cell?”

Tikka Khan: “This is outright falsehood.”

Question: “You have so much respect for him. Then why did you humiliate our national hero Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by bringing him to West Pakistan as a prisoner which European history had a similar example when the French national hero Napoleon Bonaparte, the great was transported to St. Helena island as a prisoner?”

Tikka Khan :  “I did never humiliate Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in any way. I saluted him when I saw him off in Dhaka. Then I had a feeling that after his arrival in West Pakistan, a comprehensive settlement would be reached and Sheikh Mujib would become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. I did not kill Sheikh Mujib, but you killed him. I ask you, why did you kill him? You must never tell that Tikka Khan killed him. Both of you carry my stick and travel on the Asian highway and as you travel all the way from Lahore to Dhaka keep on saying to people that Tikka Khan did not kill Sheikh Mujib. His Bengali people killed him.” (The butcher Tikka Khan hit us back with such a cruel reply, because of the killers of our Father of the Nation. Let no mother of Bengali nation produce such heinous killers for whom heads of our nation go down before the world community.)

Question: “Your military action and genocide on 25th March and onward, caused dismemberment of Pakistan and you were solely responsible for that. How do you evaluate your role which brought fall of your army in the former East Pakistan?”

Tikka Khan : “I know till I die I shall be questioned on that account. But I was not responsible for breaking up the country.”

Question: “Are you aware that 2 lacs of our mothers and sister were raped by the former Pakistan Army in East Pakistan?  

Tikka Khan : This number is absurd. It is simply not believable. My total army strength was not even two lakhs. In the name Allah I know there were some incidents of rape no doubt, took place.”

Question: “Millions of unarmed civilian population were massacred indiscriminately by Pakistan Army all over East Pakistan and that was one of the biggest genocide ever-recorded in the human history. How do you justify that?”

Tikka Khan : “We did not commit any genocide. In war, people on both sides die due to action and counter-action. In some areas innocent people also die in such action. We took disciplinary action against those who indulged in excesses. In areas where innocent people had died, it was revealed after enquiry that the local Bengali leaders for their business, land property and other self interest misinformed and misguided our soldiers for many such actions for go and catch those leaders who are responsible for such action.”

Question: “But we heard that Pakistani leaders and army Generals were very pleased when they heard the news of the killing of our father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.”

Tikka Khan: “This is sheer falsehood. All Pakistanis were rudely shocked to hear the news. Sheikh Mujib commanded much respect of the entire Pakistani people. For, it was he who was responsible to get the POWs released from India. Each Pakistani prays to Allah to grant him Jannatul Ferdous. When he arrived in Lahore to attend the 1974 OIC conference, he was accorded  full honour as the great leader of a Muslim country. I saluted him in Lahore and shook hand with much respect. Those who killed him, they did great harm to the cause of the Islamic Ummah. His death was a great loss to the two Muslim nations. But the enemy nations gained much.”

Question: “How do you evaluate your personal role in 1971 war including the surrender of one lakh highly trained Pakistan Army to our Muktibahini ?”

Tikka Khan: “I am much distressed at the break-up of the country. When I analyze the situation, I feel it in the depth of my heart. We all were responsible for it. It is our collective responsibility to keep the country intact. By the same token, we all were responsible for the break-up of the country too. Much damage has been caused to us as one part of the country has already seceded, and it is continuing.”

Question : “Are you aware of the Pakistani Justice Hamidur Rahman Commission Report in which he held the Pak army generals and other commanding officers responsible for war crimes and recommended their trial? “Some of the top Pakistani editors and journalist community leaders including Mr. Nesar Osmany and Mr. Habib Khan Ghori told me that common people of Pakistan were in favour of this report. Do you agree to that?”

Tikka Khan: “If the people of Pakistan had accepted the Justice Hamidur Rahman Report then I also accept it and law should take its own course. We sacked the army who had been repatriated from East Pakistan whether they committed war crime or not, all were retired from the army.

The former Home Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh, Mr. Manjurul Karim was then the Deputy Commissioner of Noakhali in 1971. In separate interviews he told the compiler of the history of liberation war project and researcher, Lt. Col. (retired) Mr. A.S. M. Shamsul Arefin and this writer that he had heard the voice of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declaring independence on a radio frequency on March 26 at midnight.

The name of 'Bangladesh' and 'Joy Bangla' were uttered in the same breath in every sector of the battle front as is rightly mentioned in the history of the liberation war. Its proof is the book, "Bangladesher Swadhinatar Yuddha" (The liberation war of Bangladesh) written during President Ziaur Rahman's time. Is there any one who can refute this in Bangladesh? Sector Commander No. 3 Major Shafiullah writes in the book "Bangladesher Swadhinatar Yuddha" (The liberation war of Bangladesh) (part 9, page 234). "On March 28, 1971 at 10 am I left for Mymensingh alone with all the surplus arms and ammunition and vehicles. At the time of my departure, Lt. Col. Rafique assured me that he would leave along with his force in the evening. After I had left Joydevpur I found the Bangladesh flag flying atop all houses right from the Joydevpur road roundabout. It instantaneously created unprecedented wave of joy in the hearts of the Army jawans and they all were shouting the slogan of 'Joy Bangla'.

As our convoy came out from Joydevpur, the people burst in great joy and inspired us to give the 'Joy Bangla' slogan. The Commander of No. 2, Sector Major Khaled Mosharraf writes in the same book (part 9, page 134). "At last my conscience compelled me to take the final decision. We must stand against this injustice.

There were no political directives though, I recollected Bangabandhu's declaration of Seventh March. He said, "Build fort in every house. The present battle is the battle for freedom." I called Lt. Mahbub to tell that from this moment. I declared my allegiance to Swadhin Bangla. Right now you tell all forces under our command that from today. We withdraw our allegiance to Pakistan. Fly the flag of Swadhin Bangla from now on. We shall fight against the Pak Army. Ask all soldiers to get ready. From here we shall start for Dhaka. The Bengal Regiment was to assemble at Brahmanbaria. It looked as if Lt. Mahbub was only waiting so long for this directive. He ran at once to inform the rest of the men of my decision. Soon afterwards, I heard the slogan of the tiger of Bengal 'Joy Bangla'.

In the speech broadcast from Kalurghat Betar Kendra in Chittagong on March 27, then Major Ziaur Rahman mentioned that 'the Chief in Charge of the Army, Bangabandhu and Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared independence of Bangladesh', and ended by saying 'Joy Bangla'.

At a function held by the Swadhin Bangla Betar in front of the Dhaka Museum on December 14, 1992, the tape of Ziaur Rahman's speech of March 27, 1991 was broadcast.

Sector 9 Commander Major Zainul Abedin personally gave me the original paper of the press statement which was written and signed by him at Khulna Circuit House after the Pak Army of Khulna Jessore range had jointly surrendered on December 18, after two days of surrender at Dhaka. The statement is published here without any change. 'At 10 am Major Zainul Abedin in presence of all the officers of Khulna collectorate Janab Abedin delivered a speech and wanted the co-operation and coordination of all the officers to develop the country very soon and to regain the loss of the national wealth which was shaken by the enemy. He also assured them that he will move shoulder to shoulder with the officials and public in general for the betterment of the country. He advised the people not to take law in their hand in order to avoid calamities. The actual culprits should be punished according to law of the country after proper trial by the Bangladesh government. At 3.15 pm Major Zainul Abedin convened a meeting of the F/F, MB locally trained Mukti Bahini at the Khulna Circuit House. The meeting entrusted Janab Rahmatullah (Dadu) and Khairuzzaman (Tuku) to maintain law and order in Khulna Municipal area and mobilize the group accordingly.

In each sector of the battle fronts in 1971, all sector commanders, sub-sector commanders and junior sub-sector commanders used to take oath and make promise to shed last drop of their blood for their motherland and Bangabandhu. And this, in a way, sums up the history of liberation war. This was the ideal and truth of the liberation was.

The fact that national heroes and freedom fighters General Shafiullah, General Ziaur Rahman, General M.A. Manjur, General Khaled Mosharraf, General Mir Showkat Ali, General C.R. Dutta, Col. Kazi Nuruzzaman, Major Rafique, Major Zainul Abedin, Wing Commander M.K. Bashar and Air Commodore A.K. Khandakar and others used to raise the 'Bangabandhu' and 'Joy Bangla' slogans in all war fronts are beyond any doubt.

As the War Correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during my movement with the allied forces and Bengal Regiment, I have seen this in my own eyes. I have seen Major Ziaur Rahman as a Sector Commander or as Chief of the 'Z' Force used to give his speech on the war fronts raising 'Joy Bangla' slogan and inspired them to fight the enemy.

The second President of Bangladesh Mr. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury was reminiscing his days in Europe in 1971 in an interview he gave to me. Mr. Justice Chowdhury was then moving like meteor from Europe to America to arouse world conscience on the plight of the Bengalis during the period of the liberation war. He won support world-wide to our cause. He had been either writing in newspapers or addressing public gatherings to explain the reasons of the liberation war or describing the genocide perpetrated on the innocent Bengalis by the Pak Army.

I happened to meet another accused of the Agartala conspiracy case, a retired soldier, I asked how he was pulling on. He referred to Bangabandhu and said that Bangabandhu in the sixties had inspired the patriotic Bengali officers of the Pak Army.

We plunged into the movement in an all-out way. But today we are left unwanted or supported. The state honour which is due to Bangabandhu is still being denied. But the objective for which we got ourselves involved in Agartala conspiracy case or liberation war had already been achieved. Now the country breaths freedom. For all time to come, Bengali nation had been freed. This is the gift of Bangabandhu which again is his greatest reward and honour.

I asked him, "After winning independence how you have been and what you have got?" In a sad voice he replied, "The best sons of the nation Bangabandhu, Tajuddin and others got nothing. Similarly, I also got nothing, nor have I any expectation. So, I did not tell my name even to you. We are now totally forgotten." (Now that he is dead I deem it proper to mention his name. He is flight Sergeant Mofizullah).

The writer was War Correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra & Former Secretary, Govt. of Bangladesh.

Email: [email protected], web: www.musabd.com)

 

Return of the patriarch from the jaws of death

The highest honour of Bangladesh was due to those heroes of the soil who had created sever panic in the hearts of the Pakistani civil servant in Dhaka. it now seems imperative that the voice of thunder that raised fear in the heart of Tikka Khan should be raised again

My career as civil servant spanning for more than three decades started with Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra at Kalurghat, Chittagong on March 26, 1971. For obvious reasons, in the initial period of 9 months of the liberation war of my service I had to move from one place to another with the shifting of the radio transmitter of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra which finally was set up at Baligonj, Calcutta. Twice in a week I used to broadcast two features, Ranaangan Ghure Elam and Muktanchal Ghure Elam based on war situation over this radio. And now I would like to present some facts before our people, particularly to those born after the liberation war. In the beginning of the liberation war I was in Chittagong studying in Bengali Hons class in Chittagong University. During my education career I was involved with journalism serving the daily Azadi of Chittagong as a Reporter and University Correspondent of the national daily Ittefaq. I was also associated with Chittagong radio as a regular talker of students programmes. On one of those days of the liberation war, the non-Bengali CSP officers were found rushing to the room of the senior Assistant Secretary of the Appointments Transfer section of the Establishment Division. On that wintry morning around eleven Oclock, the martyr hero Rumi (son of Shaheed mother Jahanara Imam) and Maya had at the risk of their lives blasted several bombs to demolish the DIT building not far from the Secretariat. The Secretariat, Motijheel and Bangabhaban areas trembled intermittently with the bomb blasts. These blasts made the Pakistani CSP and other Pakistani officers shiver to their backbones. They were weeping for their lives. Officials of even of the rank of Additional Secretaries knocked the door of Mr. Matin to request to initiate notes for their transfer to West Pakistan. Out of fear at the bomb blast, a Deputy Secretary from Punjab had to give way even to his bowel motion on the very sofa he was sitting on and had to be shifted to the circuit house with screens wrapped around his hip. It all happened in the room of Mr. Abdul Matin Khan. Mr. Matin was subjected to gross injustice and ill-treatment during the Ershad regime and had to go on pre-matured retirement as Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Finance in 1988. The highest honour of Bangladesh was due to those heroes of the soil who had created severe panic in the hearts of the Pakistani civil servant in Dhaka. It now seems imperative that the voice of thunder that raised fear in the heart of Tikka Khan should be raised again. General Tikka Khan had told me of this in 1988. I attended the 4th SAARC Summit in Islamabad on December 30, 1988 along with a team of journalists from Bangladesh. I spotted Tikka Khan seated in the VIP row at the conference. After much effort, I managed an interview with him at the Governors House, Lahore, on December 31 evening. Myself and Rezaur Rahman, editor of the weekly, Akhoney Shamoy and TV presenter on law and court, together went to the Punjab Governors House at the appointed time and the interview was held without any rancour. I published the first part of that rare interview in Daily Janakantha on December 16, 1993, which again was published in my book, Muktijuddya Hridaye Mamo in 1995. Although I intended to publish the second part of the interview in my next book, but since it is getting late, I now make it public through this article. Besides Rezaur Rahman and I, the private secretary to the Governor was present at the interview. My questions were in English, but Gen. Tikka Khan replied in Urdu. With reference to my earlier discussion in Karachi with Mr. Habib Khan Ghouri, Secretary General of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Mr. Nisar Usmany, leader of the Karachi Journalists Union and a noted journalist of Pakistan, I asked General Tikka Khan: Mr. Ghouri and Mr. Nisar Usmany told me that common people of West Pakistan did not support the military action in East Pakistan in 1971. After more than two decades do you still think that the action taken at that time was justified, Sir? General Tikka Khan replied: Regarding 71 crisis, some people held the Army responsible and some others, the politicians of Pakistan. Holding the same view, there were many leaders of Bangladesh who were with us. The general public of Bangladesh also held the view that we were on the right track. Neither Mr. Golam Azam of the Jamaat and the Muslim League nor the general people ever said that we did anything wrong. Question: When did you exactly start the genocide in Dhaka, Sir? General Tikka : There was no genocide at all. I had secret information that at the Jagannath Hall some anti-state elements were preparing themselves to launch in attack on the army patrol force. I sent some forces them to the Jagannath Hall. It is true that during the gun-fire some Hindus got killed. After that, skirmishes continued regularly in which our men as well as members of the Muktibahini were killed. When two groups fight each other face-to-face that is not a genocide. Tikka Khans reply surprised us beyond comprehension and we, myself and Rezaur Rahman, looked side-eyed at each others face. I stole a glance at his slim, well-built Private Secretary who was them standing by our side to find our if he too had believed the brazen lies of his master, General Tikka Khan. It seemed, he too, was equally surprised, and felt embarrassed at what General Tikka Khan had said about the genocide. For, everyone knows that at the order given initially by Tikka Khan to begin with Pak Army had killed lakhs of people in Bangladesh. A commission was also set-up in Pakistan to investigate this issue and the commission had recommended court martial on specific charges of genocide and rape, although the recommendations were not implemented. According to General Tikka Khan, he did not order genocide on 26th March. If so, why did you arrest Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from his Dhanmondi residence, I asked him. General Tikka Khan : My COD (Co-ordination Officer) brought to me a three band radio and told me to listen to the broadcast which said that Sheikh Mujib Saheb had given a call for independence. Personally, I heard Sheikh Saheb declaring independence, for I knew his voice so well. That declaration was the reason and so, I, as the then supreme authority of East Pakistan, I had to arrest him, there being no other alternative. Question: If Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had gone to India along with Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed what you would have done, Sir? General Tikka Khan, I knew very well that a leader of his stature would never go away leaving behind his countrymen. I would have made a thorough search in every house and road in Dhaka to find out Sheikh Mujib. I had no intention to arrest leaders like Tajuddin Ahmed and others. That is why they could leave Dhaka so easily. But Tikka Khan said in a very firm voice that in case we had failed to arrest Sheikh Mujib on that very night, he (General Tikka Khan) and his force would have inflicted a mortal blow at each home in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh. It is true that in order to arrest Sheikh Mujib they would not have left a single home unsearched. During the long nine months, they killed 3 million people, but had they been unable to arrest Sheikh Mujib on 25th March, they would have killed 3 crore people in nine days in revenge. But history is the witness, so also the people of the world that Sheikh Mujib had saved the Bangladesh people from a catastrophe. At road no. 32, Dhanmondi, Dhaka he was waiting to risk his life only to save his fellow countrymen from the wrath of Tikka, showing great courage. For no one knew if he would be killed or arrested on that fateful night. Question: When the political discussion was going on between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and President Yahya Khan why, sir, did you think it necessary to bring thousands of Pak Army to East Pakistan from West Pakistan? Tikka Khan: My Army was only carrying their routine job. The movement of the Army was carried out as per normal routine requirement. Question: Dont you think yourself responsible for the break-up of Pakistan caused by the army action on 25 March in the former East Pakistan? Tikka Khan: President Yahya Khan had already announced that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would become the Prime Minister, I was confident that this announcement would make Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the entire Bangali people very happy. This was precisely due to the fact that a real Bengali leader was to become Prime Minister of Pakistan. But some extremists young Turks pressurized Sheikh Mujib to become head of a region instead of the whole of Pakistan. Student fronts working on Indias directives created an untoward situation. When all the people of five regions were expecting Sheikh Mujib as their Prime Minister then why he should become head or prime Minister only of a region of the country? I surmise that some extremist student leaders of East Pakistan and some leaders of West Pakistan were responsible for not allowing Sheikh Mujib to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Question: Then whom do you consider responsible for such a blood-bath and human tragedy in Bangladesh in 71? Tikka Khan: Student leaders in East Pakistan and Tajuddin Ahmed were responsible for the break-up of the country. Some leaders of West Pakistan too were responsible for the break-up. Question: Sir, will you please name them. Tikka Khan: Now I cannot disclose their names. When the time comes I will disclose. Question: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the elected leader of the majority people of Pakistan and commanded majority in the Pakistan Parliament. Then why did you take him in custody, and how do you explain your position? Tikka Khan: Of the total telephone calls I made to West Pakistan since my appointment as Governor of East Pakistan, 80 per cent calls were made to know about his welfare and arrangements taken for his comfort. I also talked to the former Governor of East Pakistan Azam Khan and other former Governors of East Pakistan too. I was confident that without Sheikh Mujib no compromise would be possible. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and all other top brass in the army knew it quite well. Question: Why did you dig grave beside his prison cell? Tikka Khan: This is outright falsehood. Question: You have so much respect for him. Then why did you humiliate our national hero Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by bringing him to West Pakistan as a prisoner which European history had a similar example when the French national hero Napoleon Bonaparte, the great was transported to St. Helena island as a prisoner? Tikka Khan : I did never humiliate Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in any way. I saluted him when I saw him off in Dhaka. Then I had a feeling that after his arrival in West Pakistan, a comprehensive settlement would be reached and Sheikh Mujib would become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. I did not kill Sheikh Mujib, but you killed him. I ask you, why did you kill him? You must never tell that Tikka Khan killed him. Both of you carry my stick and travel on the Asian highway and as you travel all the way from Lahore to Dhaka keep on saying to people that Tikka Khan did not kill Sheikh Mujib. His Bengali people killed him. (The butcher Tikka Khan hit us back with such a cruel reply, because of the killers of our Father of the Nation. Let no mother of Bengali nation produce such heinous killers for whom heads of our nation go down before the world community.) Question: Your military action and genocide on 25th March and onward, caused dismemberment of Pakistan and you were solely responsible for that. How do you evaluate your role which brought fall of your army in the former East Pakistan? Tikka Khan : I know till I die I shall be questioned on that account. But I was not responsible for breaking up the country. Question: Are you aware that 2 lacs of our mothers and sister were raped by the former Pakistan Army in East Pakistan? Tikka Khan : This number is absurd. It is simply not believable. My total army strength was not even two lakhs. In the name Allah I know there were some incidents of rape no doubt, took place. Question: Millions of unarmed civilian population were massacred indiscriminately by Pakistan Army all over East Pakistan and that was one of the biggest genocide ever-recorded in the human history. How do you justify that? Tikka Khan : We did not commit any genocide. In war, people on both sides die due to action and counter-action. In some areas innocent people also die in such action. We took disciplinary action against those who indulged in excesses. In areas where innocent people had died, it was revealed after enquiry that the local Bengali leaders for their business, land property and other self interest misinformed and misguided our soldiers for many such actions for go and catch those leaders who are responsible for such action. Question: But we heard that Pakistani leaders and army Generals were very pleased when they heard the news of the killing of our father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. Tikka Khan: This is sheer falsehood. All Pakistanis were rudely shocked to hear the news. Sheikh Mujib commanded much respect of the entire Pakistani people. For, it was he who was responsible to get the POWs released from India. Each Pakistani prays to Allah to grant him Jannatul Ferdous. When he arrived in Lahore to attend the 1974 OIC conference, he was accorded full honour as the great leader of a Muslim country. I saluted him in Lahore and shook hand with much respect. Those who killed him, they did great harm to the cause of the Islamic Ummah. His death was a great loss to the two Muslim nations. But the enemy nations gained much. Question: How do you evaluate your personal role in 1971 war including the surrender of one lakh highly trained Pakistan Army to our Muktibahini ? Tikka Khan: I am much distressed at the break-up of the country. When I analyze the situation, I feel it in the depth of my heart. We all were responsible for it. It is our collective responsibility to keep the country intact. By the same token, we all were responsible for the break-up of the country too. Much damage has been caused to us as one part of the country has already seceded, and it is continuing. Question : Are you aware of the Pakistani Justice Hamidur Rahman Commission Report in which he held the Pak army generals and other commanding officers responsible for war crimes and recommended their trial? Some of the top Pakistani editors and journalist community leaders including Mr. Nesar Osmany and Mr. Habib Khan Ghori told me that common people of Pakistan were in favour of this report. Do you agree to that? Tikka Khan: If the people of Pakistan had accepted the Justice Hamidur Rahman Report then I also accept it and law should take its own course. We sacked the army who had been repatriated from East Pakistan whether they committed war crime or not, all were retired from the army. The former Home Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh, Mr. Manjurul Karim was then the Deputy Commissioner of Noakhali in 1971. In separate interviews he told the compiler of the history of liberation war project and researcher, Lt. Col. (retired) Mr. A.S. M. Shamsul Arefin and this writer that he had heard the voice of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declaring independence on a radio frequency on March 26 at midnight. The name of Bangladesh and Joy Bangla were uttered in the same breath in every sector of the battle front as is rightly mentioned in the history of the liberation war. Its proof is the book, Bangladesher Swadhinatar Yuddha (The liberation war of Bangladesh) written during President Ziaur Rahmans time. Is there any one who can refute this in Bangladesh? Sector Commander No. 3 Major Shafiullah writes in the book Bangladesher Swadhinatar Yuddha (The liberation war of Bangladesh) (part 9, page 234). On March 28, 1971 at 10 am I left for Mymensingh alone with all the surplus arms and ammunition and vehicles. At the time of my departure, Lt. Col. Rafique assured me that he would leave along with his force in the evening. After I had left Joydevpur I found the Bangladesh flag flying atop all houses right from the Joydevpur road roundabout. It instantaneously created unprecedented wave of joy in the hearts of the Army jawans and they all were shouting the slogan of Joy Bangla. As our convoy came out from Joydevpur, the people burst in great joy and inspired us to give the Joy Bangla slogan. The Commander of No. 2, Sector Major Khaled Mosharraf writes in the same book (part 9, page 134). At last my conscience compelled me to take the final decision. We must stand against this injustice. There were no political directives though, I recollected Bangabandhus declaration of Seventh March. He said, Build fort in every house. The present battle is the battle for freedom. I called Lt. Mahbub to tell that from this moment. I declared my allegiance to Swadhin Bangla. Right now you tell all forces under our command that from today. We withdraw our allegiance to Pakistan. Fly the flag of Swadhin Bangla from now on. We shall fight against the Pak Army. Ask all soldiers to get ready. From here we shall start for Dhaka. The Bengal Regiment was to assemble at Brahmanbaria. It looked as if Lt. Mahbub was only waiting so long for this directive. He ran at once to inform the rest of the men of my decision. Soon afterwards, I heard the slogan of the tiger of Bengal Joy Bangla. In the speech broadcast from Kalurghat Betar Kendra in Chittagong on March 27, then Major Ziaur Rahman mentioned that the Chief in Charge of the Army, Bangabandhu and Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared independence of Bangladesh, and ended by saying Joy Bangla. At a function held by the Swadhin Bangla Betar in front of the Dhaka Museum on December 14, 1992, the tape of Ziaur Rahmans speech of March 27, 1991 was broadcast. Sector 9 Commander Major Zainul Abedin personally gave me the original paper of the press statement which was written and signed by him at Khulna Circuit House after the Pak Army of Khulna Jessore range had jointly surrendered on December 18, after two days of surrender at Dhaka. The statement is published here without any change. At 10 am Major Zainul Abedin in presence of all the officers of Khulna collectorate Janab Abedin delivered a speech and wanted the co-operation and coordination of all the officers to develop the country very soon and to regain the loss of the national wealth which was shaken by the enemy. He also assured them that he will move shoulder to shoulder with the officials and public in general for the betterment of the country. He advised the people not to take law in their hand in order to avoid calamities. The actual culprits should be punished according to law of the country after proper trial by the Bangladesh government. At 3.15 pm Major Zainul Abedin convened a meeting of the F/F, MB locally trained Mukti Bahini at the Khulna Circuit House. The meeting entrusted Janab Rahmatullah (Dadu) and Khairuzzaman (Tuku) to maintain law and order in Khulna Municipal area and mobilize the group accordingly. In each sector of the battle fronts in 1971, all sector commanders, sub-sector commanders and junior sub-sector commanders used to take oath and make promise to shed last drop of their blood for their motherland and Bangabandhu. And this, in a way, sums up the history of liberation war. This was the ideal and truth of the liberation was. The fact that national heroes and freedom fighters General Shafiullah, General Ziaur Rahman, General M.A. Manjur, General Khaled Mosharraf, General Mir Showkat Ali, General C.R. Dutta, Col. Kazi Nuruzzaman, Major Rafique, Major Zainul Abedin, Wing Commander M.K. Bashar and Air Commodore A.K. Khandakar and others used to raise the Bangabandhu and Joy Bangla slogans in all war fronts are beyond any doubt. As the War Correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during my movement with the allied forces and Bengal Regiment, I have seen this in my own eyes. I have seen Major Ziaur Rahman as a Sector Commander or as Chief of the Z Force used to give his speech on the war fronts raising Joy Bangla slogan and inspired them to fight the enemy. The second President of Bangladesh Mr. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury was reminiscing his days in Europe in 1971 in an interview he gave to me. Mr. Justice Chowdhury was then moving like meteor from Europe to America to arouse world conscience on the plight of the Bengalis during the period of the liberation war. He won support world-wide to our cause. He had been either writing in newspapers or addressing public gatherings to explain the reasons of the liberation war or describing the genocide perpetrated on the innocent Bengalis by the Pak Army. I happened to meet another accused of the Agartala conspiracy case, a retired soldier, I asked how he was pulling on. He referred to Bangabandhu and said that Bangabandhu in the sixties had inspired the patriotic Bengali officers of the Pak Army. We plunged into the movement in an all-out way. But today we are left unwanted or supported. The state honour which is due to Bangabandhu is still being denied. But the objective for which we got ourselves involved in Agartala conspiracy case or liberation war had already been achieved. Now the country breaths freedom. For all time to come, Bengali nation had been freed. This is the gift of Bangabandhu which again is his greatest reward and honour. I asked him, After winning independence how you have been and what you have got? In a sad voice he replied, The best sons of the nation Bangabandhu, Tajuddin and others got nothing. Similarly, I also got nothing, nor have I any expectation. So, I did not tell my name even to you. We are now totally forgotten. (Now that he is dead I deem it proper to mention his name. He is flight Sergeant Mofizullah). The writer was War Correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Former Secretary, Govt. of Bangladesh. Email: [email protected], web: www.musabd.com)