In the beginning of the Liberation War I was in Chittagong studying the Chittagong University. During my education career I was involved with journalism serving Daily Azadi as a reporter and university correspondent of national daily Ittefaq. I was also associated with Chittagong radio.
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. 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.
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 Bahani 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.
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 IS War Correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and Former Secretary, Govt. of Bangladesh)
(Email:[email protected],
web: www.musabd.com)