Z A M Khairuzzaman

For all heroic freedom fighters (FFs), Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 has been a major turning point in their lives. The bloody war transformed their world view about their lives, the philosophy of a nation, construction of nationhood, keeping the spirit or ideals of liberation as the centerpiece of the very foundation of the idea of an independent sovereign state. Fifty-one years down the line, the brave freedom fighters, who are still alive and senior citizens, had never allowed the memory of the independence war to fade. The memory of the fateful days, the guns, the bombings, the ambushes, the raids, the hit-and-run attacks on the enemy posts are ever-fresh in their hearts.
Noted Arthroplasty and Trauma Surgeon Professor Dr Amjad Hossain is such a brave and bold freedom fighter. In March, 1971, he spontaneously took part in the Liberation War at the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After the fall of Dinajpur to the occupation Pakistan army in mid-April of 1971, he witnessed in horror the cruelty of Biharis and Pakistani military. At once, he took a determination to take a revenge and underwent training at Kamarpara and Raiganj in Dinajpur as well as in nearby Shiliguri of Paschim Banga (former West Bengal), India.
Being a team leader, he fought a face-to-face battle in Sector No-7 and raided Pakistani camps and installments at Bara Gram, New Town and Rudrani in Dinajpur district. Later, Pakistani forces, based on a secret information provided by Razakars (local collaborators of Pakistani military), attacked the freedom fighters at Bheram village in Phulbari upazila of the northern district on July 31, 1971. The high spirited teenaged freedom fighter, who had just passed the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination from Dinajpur Government College sustained grievous injuries on both of his legs while his close comrade-in-arms Mozaffar Ali, another valiant freedom fighter (FF), died on the spot and the third one, Khairat Ali, was captured by the occupation forces. Mozaffar embraced martyrdom by becoming a shield for protecting the entire team of freedom fighters. It was a sheer display of fearless bravery, courage and undiluted patriotism that led to his martyrdom. The death of his close comrade in front of him left a permanent impact on Amjad’s life.
Since the Liberation War ended following surrender of 92,000 fighting soldiers of Pakistan on December 16, 1971 so much water has flowed through the rivers of the land and so much has happened — politically, economically, socially, demographically, geographically, and topographically, but the memory of the martyred comrade still lingers in memory of Amjad. As a mark of respect and gratitude to his fellow comrade, he decided to name a dormitory of his founded educational institution named Amena-Baki Residential Model School and College at Chirirbandar in Dinajpur as Muktijodhdha Shaheed Mozaffar Ali Bhaban. He did it marking the birth centenary of the greatest Bengalee of all time Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh.
Minister for Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Huq, who took part in the first resistance against Pakistani troops in Gazipur in 1971, unveiled the plaque of Muktijodhdha Shaheed Mozaffar Ali House as the Chief Guest at a formal ceremony on the premises of the famous educational institution of the country’s northern region in recent past. For the living freedom fighters of Bangladesh, celebrating 50 years of their independence and the centenary birth anniversary of Bangabandhu is indeed a milestone. Before March 26, 1971, the idea of being a citizen of an independent country was a dream that the freedom fighters hankered after. The cherished dream gave them the courage to fight for an independent country.
Our indebtedness to our martyrs, our freedom fighters and our people who fought valiantly and sacrificed everything, will never diminish. And now in the ongoing year of 2022 when Bangladesh attained the age of 51, we as a nation have earned the right to celebrate all of our remarkable achievements. The achievements include remarkable success in increasing girls enrolment in schools, reducing infant and maternal mortality, empowerment of women, growth of RMG sector, contributions of migrant workers, maritime victories, laurels earned by the country’s peacekeepers abroad, breakthroughs in agriculture, food self-sufficiency, infrastructural mega projects and the journey towards a truly digital Bangladesh. Our economic growth has been consistent that helps us to graduate to a developing country.
Marking the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh, Dr Amjad built a massive gate named ‘Swadhinatar Subarno Jayanti Toron’ at the entrance of Amena-Baki Residential Model School and College at his upazila hometown of Chirirbandar. Marking the occasion, he did not miss to pay glowing tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the freedom fighters of Bangladesh. ‘Binamro Shrodhya Bangabandhu O Banglar Muktijodhya’ has been written on the massive gate. Driven by the spirit of patriotism, this philanthropist who was awarded with the prestigious Swadhinata Padak by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2021 in social work category, established a public library titled ‘Bijoy Ekattor Gano Pathagar.’ In the library, books of all kinds, including stories, novels, articles, research, art-culture, history-heritage, local and foreign journals, reference books and many other books, including biographies, children’s stories, poems, and books focusing the history of Bangladesh Liberation War are available. Inauguration of the three structures by the Minister for Liberation War Affairs is indeed a milestone which paves the way for the history of the next 50 years with inspiration from the past 50 years.
During the inaugural ceremony, Professor Amjad urged all to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War meaning nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism. “This very spirit had encouraged the freedom fighters to participate in the Liberation War in 1971,” he stated. He mentioned that there are still many more promises which we must have to keep in honour of the martyrs of the country’s Liberation War and realise Bangabandhu’s dream of ‘Sonar Bangla.’ “To do that we must all work much harder and with greater sincerity and commitment to fulfill the aspirations of all citizens of the country,” he added.

The writer is a columnist. E-mail: [email protected]