A father was martyred for saving his son in 1971. The son of the heroic freedom fighter naval commando. Shahjahan Kabir (Bir Pratik) angrily asked a few questions!
Has the state listed the martyrs? Has the history of the sacrifices of the martyrs been brought to the notice of the generation?
Going to describe the events of 1971, Shahjahan Kabir said, “My father Md. Ibrahim was the headmaster of Safarmali High School, BABT, Chandpur. Before the naval operation at Chandpur river port under Operation Jackpot, I first got up at my home, Dashadi in Chandpur. At the end of the operation, I stayed at home in hiding. The news reached the Pakistani army through the Razakars. Baba Safarmali closed the school by disobeying the government order to keep the school open in 1971. They were furious. “
“August 18, 1971, 8 in the morning. They also surrounded the house in four or five boats. Then he tied up my father and started beating me. He was bent over in pain by the kick of the boot. They ask Dad – “Where are the naval commandos?”
He did not open his mouth, even after being beaten. Searching the house, they did not find any weapons. As a result, they tied us up and took us to the boat.
They tied my hands and feet. He is leaving his father beside him in the boat. He is moaning in pain. Bachchu Razakar was the labor chief of the jute mill. He is also in the boat. Seeing the old man, another Razakar untied his father’s arms and legs. His whole body was swollen due to the impact of Pakistani boots.
They are busy in the boat with the looted money and gold and silver. On that occasion, my father whispered in my ear, “You run away from here.” He also untied my hands and feet. Two Pakistani soldiers stood on either side of the boat with arms. I put one foot on one side and threw it in the water. Then I jump 6 They fire the brush But before that I went away
After a while the sound of a few shots came to my ears. The inside of the chest then gripped. Father was martyred for saving his son. I am living with the life given by my father. Thousands of such fathers were martyred in 1971. Do we remember them in 50 years of independence? Has the state listed the martyrs of 1971? What has the history of the sacrifices of the martyrs been able to present to the generation?
The heroic freedom fighters brought the country and independence by fighting. They have made a map of an independent country with the blood of martyrs and war wounded. So the map of our country is a map of blood, a map of 3 million martyrs, a map of the exchange of respect for two million mothers and sisters. This is the place of absolute attainment, the place of contentment As a result, it is important for the brave children of the nation to know the dream of a country and how much that dream has come true.
Opposition parties and the military government were in power for a long time after independence. Then the Razakars were resettled, the red-green flag of the independent country was also flown in their car. Just as this is a scandalous chapter of history, so the history has been distorted naked at that time. The words of Joy Bangla and Bangabandhu could not be uttered. As a result, several generations have grown up knowing the wrong history of the liberation war. As a result, attempts are being made to create confusion about the history of the liberation war. Most of which is happening through social media.
Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina has been in power for a long time. 7 heroic freedom fighters have been honored in his time. The heroic freedom fighters and the families of the martyrs are getting various benefits including increase in allowances and accommodation. The trial for the assassination of Bangabandhu and the execution of the war criminals have also been carried out. The trial is still going on. As a result, the mountain of suffering accumulated in the chest of the freedom fighters has come down a lot. This is a bold initiative of the government which would not have been possible without the daughter of the father of the nation in power, the heroic freedom fighters think. In their words- ‘Sheikh Maya has erased the time of suffering’
Bangabandhu’s dream was the dream of the freedom fighters. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman told Siddhartha Shankar Roy, “I have left a seed of secularism in Bangladesh. The day this seed is uprooted, Bangladesh will be destroyed. ‘But are we following the path of Bangabandhu’s dream?
In 1971, ordinary people, people of all religions, including tribals, fought the war of liberation together for a non-communal Bangladesh. The freedom fighters also wanted a secular country But now many people think that it is moving towards bigotry. Because there have been incidents like breaking the sculpture of the father of the nation at this time. Attacks on Hindu houses, breaking of idols and breaking of sculptures have not stopped. Secularism does not mean irreligion, it is clearly stated by the Father of the Nation. The freedom fighters think that if the government does not show zero tolerance on these issues now, it will face problems in future. I don’t want to see their candid statement – ‘Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?’ I want to see if you love Bangladesh Are you Bengali? ‘
Even after so many years of independence, we have not been able to compile a list of razakars and war criminals. That was the first thing that needed to be done. An accurate list of heroic freedom fighters has not been made. Surely the heroic freedom fighters are not responsible for this. But now they are suffering in many ways, they are facing emotional and social pressure. Saha Uddin, a heroic freedom fighter from Dhamairhat, Naogaon, has recently died of a stroke after seeing his name in the canceled list of freedom fighters. But during the war, the freedom fighter commander Farmud Hossain says that he was a real freedom fighter. So can the state avoid the responsibility for the death of this heroic freedom fighter?
All the freedom fighters are in the verification and selection committee. The question also arises as to how much they can live beyond personal conflicts or interests. The issue of various political conflicts of the freedom fighters is also being brought to the fore. The issue of money transactions is also coming up in the media Which is not expected at all.
Many freedom fighters now want to know from the government whether this is the last verification or selection. A heroic freedom fighter, about 70 years old, said angrily, “What did I do wrong in the war of liberation?” How many more times will he have to face verification and selection for the crime of fighting in 1971? There is no need for respect Instead, stop insulting. “
No action has been taken against the six secretaries of the government even after the freedom fighter certificate was proved to be fake. Instead, they have been given the opportunity to retire voluntarily by revoking their credentials. Revoking the certificate is not a punishment. On the contrary, it was necessary to bring all those associated with it under the law. As a result, questions remain in the minds of the people about it. Besides, many freedom fighter families have been disappointed to cancel the freedom fighter quota instead of amending it.
The history of the liberation war is the prose of the life of each freedom fighter. But the task of bringing up that history from the grassroots was not very much. Most of the heroic freedom fighters are now in their sixties. Many have died. As a result, death is happening immediately after their death. The government must also take effective steps to preserve slaughterhouses and genocide sites across the country and pass on its history to the next generation.
To this day, Pakistan has not apologized for the heinous genocide of 1971, nor has it tried any of the then generals. Therefore, at this time of celebration of 50 years of independence, the state initiative to bring Pakistan to justice, including apologizing for the genocide that took place during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, can be a historic event.
Salek Khokon, Liberation War researcher and writer
