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     Volume 2 Issue 148 | December 20 , 2009|


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Feature

Sacrifice of Rajshahi University in '71

A. M. Jahid

AS part of a series of historic events from 1952, the country achieved its independence in 1971 through supreme sacrifices made by thousands of people. The largest educational institution of Northern region, Rajshahi University (RU) had its own share of sacrifices. The institution also made great sacrifices during 1971 as Pakistani army launched a military operation 'operation search light' against Bengali civilians, students, intelligentsia, and armed personnel in the country on March 25.

Rajshahi University was attacked on the dark night of March 25 like many different places of the country. The people of the campus came forward with the East Pakistan Regiment (EPR), police and Mukti Bahini who were fighting against the Pakistani Army at the campus from the beginning of the protest. In a short time, EPR took over the campus and Rajshahi city was soon under their control within a few days. But around mid April, a huge number of Pakistani Army entered the city and reclaimed their rule over the campus in cooperation with the then Vice-Chancellor and some teachers of the university who opposed independence. Most of the campus residents left the campus as the Pakistani Army established their permanent residence at the university Halls and Jubery Bhaban.

The army picked up the people from the camps and continued with their torture. They turned Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall into a 'concentration camp' and 'repression centre'. After torturing, the barbarians killed the students, the intellectuals and able-bodied males at the mass graveyard behind Zoha Hall.

Rajshahi University was freed on December 18.Till that time the Pakistani Army killed numerous unidentified people, the university teachers Prof Habibur Rahman, Prof Mir Abdul Kayum, Prof Sukhranjan Samaddhar, 16 students and 18 employees at the campus. Prof Habibur Rahman, a teacher of Mathematics was a protesting voice in the university who took part in direct protest in March. He was also regularly communicating with Mukti Bahini and EPR. Some culprits informed the Pakistani Army.

Though he knew of the upcoming danger, he stayed in the campus with his family although his colleagues requested him to leave the campus. On April 15, Pakistani Army led by Brigadier Aslam and Col. Taj launched a drive at his house and picked him up. He never came back.

Sangskrit department teacher Prof Sukhranjan Samaddher gave shelter to a tired EPR soldier at his house for a day. Getting the information, Pakistani Army launched a drive to search for the soldier on April 14, 1971. Failing to find the EPR soldier at his house, the Army personnel picked him up as a teacher of Psychology department of the university who was a member of paramilitary force 'Razakar' identified him as a Hindu. His body was found at a mass graveyard adjacent to Binodpur Bazar after eight months of the victory day. Later he was buried in front of the university central library premises.

The martyred students during the war at the university include Abdul Mannan Akhandha, Amirul Huda Zinnah, Gulam Sarwar Khan Sadhan, Prodip Kumer Raha, Muhammad Ali Khan, Shahzahan Ali, Mizanul Haque and other nine students. The employees of several departments and offices of the university who were killed during the war include Abdur Razzak, Sheikh Amazudding, SM Saiful Islam, Mohan Lal, Abul Ali, Shafikur Rahman, Nur Mia, Muhammad Yousuf, Wazed Ali, Muhammad Afzal Mridha, Wahab Ali, Abdul Maleq, Korban Ali, Kalim Udding, Idris Ali and others who were not identified.

Of the sacrificed lives of the university, Prof Sukhranjan Samaddhar, student Muhammad Ali Khan and an unidentified carpenter were buried on the university campus.

 

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