Liberation War
Titles and descriptions (kept separate)
- District BLF Commander, greater Kushtia
- District Commander, greater Kushtia
In documents: the memorial plaque (p. 15) reads “wartime District Commander and Mujib Bahini chief (BLF), greater Kushtia district”; the 2022 memento (pp. 18, 19) reads “wartime District Commander and BLF chief, Kushtia district; one of the principal commanders of the Bangshitala battle”; the 2001 letter (p. 8) addresses him as “Kushtia District BLF chief” Visible in document. We have not merged these.
Wireless Station battle
Context: early fighting in Kushtia involved the Wireless Station, Kushtia Zilla School and Police Lines.
Date and details (online sources): On the night of 30 March, local fighters launched a surprise attack on Pakistani troops stationed at the Aruapara Wireless Station in Kushtia; at 3:10 am a signal shot by Captain Azm opened the attack. The Pakistani side included the 27th Baluch Regiment. On the side of the liberation forces, Nur Alam Jiku and Advocate Abdul Bari served as organisers. After this battle, fought from 30 March to 1 April, Kushtia became free of the enemy on 1 April — one of the first liberated district towns of independent Bangladesh.
His role: although without military training, he was entrusted with responsibility. In this specific battle he did not personally fight with a weapon; as commander he organised resources and supplies and gathered and coordinated fighters.
The memorial plaque calls him “commander of the Kushtia Wireless Station battle and the Bangshitala battle” (p. 15) Visible in document.
Journey to India and Akashvani
After that battle he travelled to India with five friends and spoke on Akashvani about the Liberation War and the situation in Bangladesh. He returned, then went to India again because of the situation.
a plan to make a Liberation War film was discussed with Raju Ahmed. Tofail Ahmed brought him from there and advised him to join training at Dehradun, which he did.
Training at Dehradun
After training he returned to Bangladesh and learned that a reward of Tk 10,000 had reportedly been announced for him. (No document showing this announcement has been seen yet.)
Bangshitala battle
According to the family he directly participated in and led the Bangshitala battle as chief commander.
Date and details (online sources): On the night of 5 September a frontal battle was fought at Bangshitala–Durbachara in Kushtia Sadar upazila between freedom fighters and Pakistani forces and razakars. Several groups from Kushtia Sadar and Kumarkhali took part. The first Pakistani contingent was destroyed in a freedom-fighter ambush; Captain Jamil and about 10–15 others were killed, and some badges, a .34 revolver and several Chinese revolvers were recovered. The Pakistani covering group counter-attacked with automatic weapons. While changing position, nine fighters from Sadar including Bir Pratik Didar Ali, and Abdul Mannan (Baniyapara) and Tajul Islam (Durgapur) of Kumarkhali, were martyred; many including Mokaddes Hossain were wounded. After a long battle the Pakistani troops were forced back to Kushtia; Zahid Hossain Jafor directed the battle on the field. In reprisal, Pakistani forces and razakars burnt many houses in the Shalghar Madhua area and killed an elderly woman; the next day the Pakistani air force bombed Bangshitala and the surrounding area.
In documents: the 2022 memento says “one of the principal commanders of the Bangshitala battle” (pp. 18, 19); the memorial plaque says “commander of the Bangshitala battle” (p. 15); in two testimonials he signed (pp. 1, 2) he states that two comrades took active part in the Bangshitala battle Visible in document.
He wrote the book “Bongshitalar Juddho: Age O Pore” (1996) on this battle; the Internet Archive record gives the date of the battle as 5 September 1971 (family-supplied catalogue text).
The Wireless Station battle and the Bangshitala battle are different events, and his role in each is described separately.
Wounded fighters and humanitarian work
- After the battle he took the wounded to India for treatment.
- In India he helped freedom fighters obtain medical treatment and supplies.
- Acting on information brought to him, he intervened to stop fighters from mistakenly attacking Punjabi people and ordinary civilians not taking part in the conflict.
Official recognition
His name appears in the Ministry's lists (pp. 7, 14), Lal Muktibarta 411010296 (p. 13) and BCS Gazette serial 490 of 6 September 2003 (pp. 10, 11) Visible in document.