[🇧🇩] Liberation War: Sheikh Mujib and Others

[Saif]

India's removal of 1971 war photo, A snub to Bangladesh’s?

 

[Saif]

Remembering the martyred intellectuals

Some dates on the calendar are both painful and inspiring. It is painful due to the unwanted and undesirable incident that took place on a particular date. Again, it also reminds the great sacrifice of some lives that inspires the nation. The Martyred Intellectuals Day, also known as Buddhijibi Dib

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Remembering the martyred intellectuals
Tanim Asjad
Published :
Dec 13, 2024 21:31
Updated :
Dec 13, 2024 21:31

Some dates on the calendar are both painful and inspiring. It is painful due to the unwanted and undesirable incident that took place on a particular date. Again, it also reminds the great sacrifice of some lives that inspires the nation. The Martyred Intellectuals Day, also known as Buddhijibi Dibosh, is one such day observed by the people in Bangladesh.

Just two weeks before the surrender of the Pakistani Army in 1971, the occupation forces had launched an operation to kill as many intellectuals of Bangladesh as possible. Assisted by the local collaborators, the killing operation led to the death of a number of renowned teachers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, and others. As the occupation forces and their collaborators had already come to know the fate of their own, it was one last assault to turn the country devoid of intellectuals and top professionals.

Killing the intellectuals of then East Pakistan was part of the overall plan to subjugate the Bengali people from the behinning. During the Black Night of March 25, the military junta launched "Operation Searchlight", killing hundreds and thousands of innocent Bangalee people. Intellectuals were specific targets on that fateful night. Ten eminent teachers of Dhaka University, including Gobinda Chandra Dev, Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta and Anwar Pasha, were killed. GC Dev was a distinguished philosopher and scholar and a much respected teacher. To many, he was a saintly person. Late thriller writer and publisher Qazi Anwar Hussain, once in a conversation with this scribe, describing the atmosphere of Dhaka University during the '60s, said: "I saw Professor GC Dev was browsing a book while strolling. Disturbed by a fly trying to sit on his face, the saint-like man was trying to remove it with one hand as his other hand was holding the book."

In fact, throughout the nine months of the war, intellectuals across the country were attacked, abducted and killed. For instance, On April 8, physician Mohammed Shafi, husband of Begaum Mushtari Shafi, in Chottogram, was forcefully abducted by the Pakistani Army and later killed along with his brother-in-law Ehsan. Shafi was reputed for his social and pro-independent activities and extended full support to his wife, Mushtari Shafi, the eminent writer and activist. After the abduction of Shafi, Mushtari fled the country with her children, taking a lot of trouble and joined Sawdhin Banlga Betar Kendra.

December 14, 1971, however, witnessed the final blow to wipe out the intellectuals. Those who were abducted from their houses blindfolded were later found dead at Rayarbazar in Dhaka. The list includes Mufazzal Haider Chaudhury, Munier Choudhury, Shahidullah Kaiser, Dr Mohammad Fazle Rabbee and many others.

As the Pakistani force surrendered on December 16 in 1971, it became Bangladesh's Victory Day. Immediately after independence, Tajuddin Ahmed, the country's first prime minister, declared December 14 as the Martyred Intellectuals Day. Though the full list of the martyred intellectuals is yet to be prepared, their sacrifice is well recognised. Several books provide a vivid description of their lives and works. Bangla Academy published a series titled Sritmi Ekattor (Memory of 1971), compiling martyred intellectuals' memories.

The martyred intellectuals showed that standing against injustice and intimidation is not easy. By sacrificing their lives, they also proved that it is the duty of the enlightened section of society to defend the interests of the country, work for emancipation of people from oppression and all kinds of discriminations. It is sad that more than 50 years later, the legacy of the martyred intellectuals is yet to be consolidated. Intellectuals today mostly fail to live up to the high standard of their predecessors who sacrificed their lives for the country. They sermonise to uphold the spirit of the liberation war of 1971, but fall short of maintaining the principles and values.​

 

[Bilal9]

Govt doesn't consider Bangabandhu the Father of the Nation: Nahid Islam

"Bangabandhu has been made controversial by the Awami League," he said

www.thedailystar.net

Govt doesn't consider Bangabandhu the Father of the Nation: Nahid Islam
interim government's stance on Bangabandhu

View attachment 9780

Nahid Islam, adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, said today that the interim government does not recognise Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation.

"Bangabandhu has been made controversial by the Awami League," he said in response to a question from journalists at the Secretariat.

When asked if he personally considers Bangabandhu the Father of the Nation, Nahid replied, "The Awami League held power in a fascist manner. They stayed in power by suppressing people's voting rights, through enforced disappearances, killings, and even genocide. Therefore, whatever they declared—whether calling someone the Father of the Nation or designating a national day—such continuities will not remain in the new Bangladesh."

He added that the government wants to rebuild Bangladesh in a new way, which requires bringing a new perspective to history.

When asked if the government considers anything done by the Awami League to be of national importance, the adviser responded, "A government without a mandate has no legitimacy. Many actions were taken during that period, but all of them will be restructured and reassessed."

In response to a question about whether the current interim government considers Bangabandhu the Father of the Nation, he replied, "Certainly not."

He further explained, "If we did, then we wouldn't have a Father of the Nation at all. Many people have contributed to the struggles of this land. Our history didn't start in 1952 alone. We have the anti-British struggle, the movements of 1947 and 1971, as well as those of 1990 and 2024. We have many founding fathers. It is through their struggles that we achieved independence."

The information adviser also commented on the cancellation of certain national days, saying, "The national days being cancelled were imposed by the Awami League. This was fascist behaviour. The government considers them unimportant, which is why they are being cancelled."

He added that a new national day might be established to commemorate the mass uprisings.​

I think a lot of people in Bangladesh would agree, even his contemporaries - some of whom are barely around.

There are pictures of him drinking whiskey and hard liquor during March 24th evening with Bhutto at the Dhaka Intercontinental Hotel. Bhutto was one of his best buddies and it is very likely that he had knowledge of the March 25th armed crackdown by Yahya Khan in Dhaka and made arrangements with Bhutto in advance about house arrest in W. Pakistan and was whisked away to safety before the shooting and arson started.

He was not around when East Pakistanis were dying on the streets or even in the interim Bangladesh Govt. (in MujibNagar named after him near the Indian border) which was composed mainly of AL leaders who were having the time of their life in Calcutta, drinking and womanizing. This is well-documented.

How history repeats itself.

Now the newly ousted new generation boomer AL leaders are again also womanizing and drinking/partying sitting in Kolkata. Gareebon ka huq loot leyke bhag gia, some choice words come to mind...

The govt. next door is totally implicit in some of this. They cannot escape responsibility of giving these criminals shelter. Some foreign policy - wow...

Re-designating the call for independence and other Mujib-centric days are a great idea.

 

[Bilal9]

India's removal of 1971 war photo, A snub to Bangladesh’s?

These are petty acts of petty minds. I will hope Bangladesh Armed forces do not do any tit-for-tat action against this.

Deploying more missile-equipped drones for Nazar-dari in the border areas (as well as more Naval assets and subs within the Bay of Bengal) would be a more apt answer.

 

[Saif]

These are petty acts of petty minds. I will hope Bangladesh Armed forces do not do any tit-for-tat action against this.

Deploying more missile-equipped drones for Nazar-dari in the border areas (as well as more Naval assets and subs within the Bay of Bengal) would be a more apt answer.

Please don't bank too much on our subs as they are 30 years old Chinese Mings.

 

[Saif]

'Take oath to uphold the spirit of Liberation War'

Chief adviser urged Bangladeshis to take oath to protect sovereignty of the country on Victory Day

www.thedailystar.net

'Take oath to uphold the spirit of Liberation War'
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus urged Bangladeshis to take an oath to protect the sovereignty of the country on Victory Day

File photo

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus today said Victory Day, to be celebrated on December 16, is not only a source of pride for us but and also an occasion to take oath to remain united to protect the sovereignty of the country.

"The oath is to remain united, protect the sovereignty of the country, and uphold the spirit of the Liberation War," he said in a message on the occasion of Victory Day.

On this day, Prof Yunus said the Victory Day is a reminder to us to the bravery and sacrifices of our martyrs of the freedom struggle .

"We promise to work together to build a developed, prosperous, and well-governed Bangladesh by the interim government formed through the mass uprising of the students, workers, and people," he said.

Yunus said they are determined to further develop and strengthen the country and enjoy the full benefits of freedom.

"Today is 16th December, Victory Day. This day is a very glorious and memorable day in Bangladesh's history," he said on the eve of the occasion.

On December 16, 1971, Yunus said Bangladesh gained the taste of freedom and self-identity as a nation through the victory in the Liberation War.

"We get our desired freedom in exchange for the blood and sacrifice of millions of martyrs," he said, adding that "I wish Victory Day 2024 a great success."​

 

[theIndian]

We know @Sharma Ji is addicted

 

[Saif]

The wonder of guerilla warfare in 1971

In 1971, the people of Bangladesh united to fight the occupying Pakistani forces and their local collaborators.

www.thedailystar.net

Kaderia Bahini
The wonder of guerilla warfare in 1971

In 1971, the people of Bangladesh united to fight the occupying Pakistani forces and their local collaborators.

Against the powerful Pakistani military, which was armed with advanced weaponry, armaments, artillery and tanks, the Bangladeshi people hardly had any means to fight back. As such, they adopted guerrilla warfare by forming small groups of freedom fighters, armed with their bravery and die hard valour.

One such guerilla groups was the famous Kaderia Bahini in Tangail district, which put up a strong resistance against the Pakistani army in the region.

The force not only seized Tangail's freedom from occupation, but also went on to emerge as a wonder of guerrilla warfare, with its name spread even beyond the country's borders.

Kaderia Bahini was formed in the Tangail region on April 19, 1971, led by legendary freedom fighter Abdul Kader Siddique, a civilian guerrilla fighter also known as Bagha Siddique (Tiger Siddique).

With 17,000 regular freedom fighters and 70,000 volunteers under 91 companies, the group defeated the Pakistani forces in numerous battles in Tangail and several adjoining districts of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sirajganj and Pabna, one after another, with Siddique leading from the front with his bravery and tactics.

Kader Siddique later recorded his experiences from the warfront in his book titled "Swadhinata 71".

The force was headquartered in the remote, hilly areas in Tangail's Sakhipur, and had a training center in Andhi village. Kader's elder brother Abdul Latif Siddique, a member of the then Gono Parishad and also one of the organisers of the Liberation War, conducted the oath of the freedom fighters.

Although a guerrilla force, it was run militarily, with its own finance department, public relations department, radio-telephone-communications department, food department, and justice and prison department. It also set up a hospital at Muktanchal, adjacent to the force's headquarters, for treating wounded freedom fighters.

In addition, Kaderia Bahini also had a civilian division, headed by Anwarul Alam Shaheed.

Kaderia Bahini would ambush the enemy forces and after securing victory, would advance to the next frontier. It took part in at least 73 small and big battles with the Pakistani army, including the battles of Makrai, Dhalapara, Kamutia, Balla, Fultala, Bathuli, Patharghata and Ghatail.

However, its most renowned and successful battle was the one fought in Matikata of Bhuanpur in August, famously known as "Jahajmara War" in history. It was an operation by the freedom fighters against Pakistani war ships.

Kaderia Bahini also played a crucial role in claiming the final victory in Dhaka in December. Kader Siddique was present at the surrender of the Pakistani forces in Dhaka on December 16.

Hamidul Haque, Habibur Rahman Khoka, Fazlul Haque, Fazlur Rahman, Abdus Sabur Khan, Habibur Rahman Habib, Abul Kalam Azad, Hobibor Rahman Hobi, Mohammad Abdullah, Syed Golam Mostofa, Abdur Razzaque, Nurun Nabi, Bulbul Khan Mahbub, Ashraf Girani, Abdul Aziz, and Nurul Islam are among the freedom fighters of the Kaderia Bahini noted for their bravery in the war.

After the independence, Kader Siddique was honoured with the title of "Bir Uttam" for his extraordinary contributions in the Liberation War, while 16 others from the force got different awards -- two with "Bir Bikram" and 14 with "Bir Protik".

Kader Siddique and his Kaderia Bahini surrendered their arms to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Bindubasini Boys' High School premises on January 24, 1972.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh debunks attempts to distort 1971 Liberation War history

The Bangladesh government today refuted attempts to distort the history of its 1971 Liberation War, referencing a book written by the late JN Dixit, a former Indian foreign secretary, diplomat, and National Security Adviser.

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladesh debunks attempts to distort 1971 Liberation War history
BSS
Published: 18 Dec 2024, 21: 17

Bangladesh Government Logo File photo

The Bangladesh government today refuted attempts to distort the history of its 1971 Liberation War, referencing a book written by the late JN Dixit, a former Indian foreign secretary, diplomat, and National Security Adviser.

“We celebrate our glorious Victory in 1971; we celebrate the Truth,” the foreign ministry stated in a post on its verified Facebook page, citing Dixit’s observations on the events of 16 December, 1971.

The ministry’s post, titled “Facts in History”, reiterated that Bangladesh emerged as a sovereign, independent country on 16 December, 1971, following a prolonged struggle and a nine-month-long brutal war.

It quoted Dixit’s book Liberation and Beyond: Indo-Bangladesh Relations, which detailed the surrender ceremony marking the end of the war.

The ministry’s post included the following excerpt from the Dixit’s book: “A major political mistake at the surrender ceremony was the Indian military high command’s failure to ensure the presence of General M.A.G. Osmani, Commander from the Bangladesh side on the Joint Command, at the ceremony and making him a signatory. The formal excuse explaining his absence was that his helicopter did take off but could not reach Dhaka in time for the surrender schedule. But there was widespread suspicion that his helicopter had been sent astray so that he could not reach Dhaka in time and the focus of attention at the ceremony was riveted on the Indian military commanders. This was an unfortunate aberration which India could have avoided.

The event generated much resentment among Bangladeshi political circles. Osmani’s presence at the surrender ceremony could have helped in avoiding many of the political misunderstandings which affected Indo-Bangladesh relations in the initial days of Bangladesh’s independence.”

The post concluded, “We celebrate our glorious Victory in 1971; we celebrate the Truth.”

The ministry’s comments coincided with a hugely sparked public reactions to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s post on his X account (formerly Twitter) marking Bangladesh’s Victory Day. Modi’s remarks drew criticism from various political parties and prominent figures in Bangladesh.

In his Handle, Modi wrote – “Today, on Vijay Diwas, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India’s historic victory in 1971. Their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve safeguarded our nation and brought glory to us. This day is a tribute to their extraordinary valour and their unshakable spirit. Their sacrifices will forever inspire generations and remain deeply embedded in our nation’s history.

Widespread backlash

Criticism poured in from various quarters, including Communist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and advisers of the interim government.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul strongly protested Modi’s remarks, stating on his verified Facebook account : “I strongly protest. December 16, 1971, was Bangladesh's Victory Day. India was only an ally in this victory, nothing more than that.”

Shipping, Labour, and E-employment Adviser retired Brigadier General M. Sakhawat Hossain emphasized Bangladesh’s central role, saying, “We started our liberation war and we ended it,” as reported by New Age.

Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, also criticized Modi’s comments in a Facebook post, stating: “This was Bangladesh's Liberation War. It was for Bangladesh's independence against Pakistan.

But Modi has claimed it was solely India's war and their achievement, disregarding Bangladesh's existence in their narrative. When India claims this independence as their achievement, I see it as a direct threat to Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty, and integrity. Our struggle against this threat from India is inevitable. We must continue this struggle.”​

 

[Bilal9]

Please don't bank too much on our subs as they are 30 years old Chinese Mings.

Well for training purposes they are fine - which is what we need right now.

Training a competent underwater naval component ASAP is a must.

Equipment can come later.

Also - the Mings (version 035G class for BN) were upgraded significantly to bring then up to speed apparently to current Chinese PLAN standards. Like anti-submarine (ASW), Yu-3 torpedo, and French sonar DUUX-5capability. More details here in an official PLAN fan magazine from China.

035型明级常规动力潜艇

(Click browser options to translate into English)

Wiki also says - "The upgrade included the installation of new sensors, modern computers and communication systems. Interior decoration and crew comfort also improved."

"BNS Joyjatra uses Chinese H/SQ2-262C active sonar (improved Pike Jaw MG-100 sonar), a Chinese copy of the French DUUX-5 passive sonar, integrated by an ES5F integrated sonar system. The boat uses MRK-50 Topol (Snoop Tray) surface search radar, a Magnavox satellite navigation system for communications, with a Type 921A electronics warfare suite.

BNS Joyjatra has eight 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes which can launch a complement of 14 heavy weight ET-31 anti-ship torpedoes and ET-40 anti-submarine torpedoes. ET-31 has a range of 15 kilometers with speed of 40 knots. ET-31 use active/passive acoustic homing guidance. ET-40 torpedo has two modes which can be launched from Model 7436 triple tube torpedo launching system. ET-40 has 30 kilometers range with speed of 25 knots or 18 kilometers range with speed of 42 knots. ET-40 use wire guidance (fire-and-forget) and active acoustic homing for ASW role. ET-40 can also be used against surface ship while first stage is straight run (unguided) till passive acoustic homing mode (600m acquisition range) or wake homing guidance activated. Alternatively, the boat can carry up to 32 naval mines.

Brand new they may not be, but well-functioning is good enough for defence purposes, until we find and induct better equipment like better (quieter) diesel electric subs.

Being that Hasina did her level best to please her masters in neutering our Navy, things can only look better from this point on forward.