TRAINING IN LEBANON Some of those who started a war under the leadership of Kader (Bagha) Siddiqui in protest against the killing of Bangabandhu Shaikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975 met Shaikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, at her house at Road 32 in Dhanmandi sometime in the first week of January 1982. They proposed a plan to capture Dhaka Cantonment, which was accepted with great pleasure by Shaikh Hasina The plan was: "A group of 25 to 30 thousand committed persons are to be given political education and military training. They would capture Dhaka Cantonment by lauching a commando type attack." The capture of Dhaka Cantonment meant the capture of state power in Bangladesh. Shaikh Hlasina instructed that this plan should be implemented by all possible means. Work started about preparation of political workers for the purpose of capturing the cantonment and giving them military training. The workers were to be recruited secretly. One paid special attention to the mind-set, thoughts and personal qualities of these workers. In a short period of time a large group of workers were recruited and trained. Out of these workers a batch was specially selected for military training. After imparting political education to these recruits, a batch was selected for military training. But problem arose as to where a place for military training would be found and wherefrom arms would be available Military training was not so easy as political training. For military training, at first a safe open area is needed, where the trainees will learn the use of arms through safe arms exercises. During7 l's great liberation war we used Indian territory for such training. But it is not possible now. Only a few years back India had driven away Kader Siddiqui's forces from their soil. For military training there was no chance of using Indian soil. Sundarban or Hill-Tracts were also not safe for military training. In the world outside we had no friend. Afganistan was in the control of the staunch fundamentalists. There we have no place. There was no response from the Soviet Union (Russia). In the circumstances Lebanon and the P.L.O. (Palestine Liberation Organization) came up for consideration. Secret communication was established with P.L.O. Representative in Dhaka, Mr. Ahmed A. Razek. A
After a month, again a meeting was held with Ahmed Razek. It was decided that P.L.O. would be giving us military training in the soil of Lebanon. In return, we shall have to fight against the lsraelis on behalf of the P.L.O. We agreed. When our first batch would arrive Lebanon they would be given military training and sent to the battlefield straight way to fight the Israeli on behalf of the P.L.O. The first batch would go to Lebanon. After the training of the second batch they would go to war and the first batch would be sent back to Bangladesh. It means, one batch of ours will always fight on behalf of the P.L.O.
P.L.O. would bear expenses of our travel to Lebanon and return to Dhaka. P.L.O. would pay salaries to those of us who would fight for P.L.O.
From time to time all aspects of the plan were intimated to Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina and her advice was taken. In pursuance of the decision of the meeting with P.L.O. first batch was sent to Lebanon in the last week of May, 1982.
After receiving training the first batch started fighting for the P.L.O. in the Israeli border. The second batch was prepared to go to Lebanon. At that time Israel made an attack and occupied Lebanon. All of our fighters became captives in the hands of Israelis. Our plan failed. Parents and relatives of all of our fighters started crying for them. Mujib's daughter Sheikh Hasina conveniently forgot everything. She remained passive and silent. She never uttered any word about our sons. After this with much difficulty, through Pakistan Red Cross our fighters who were captives in the hands of the Israelis were brought back to the country.
INVITING ERSHAD TO SEIZE POWER
Awami League President Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina began to give repeated calls to the Army Chief General H. M. Ershad to seize state power. People's Leader Sheikh Hasina gave assurances of all sorts of co-operation and help on behalf of the people to General Ershad. In order to topple the elected President and the Government and to capture state power by the army secret meetings were held between General Ershad and Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina on several occasions.
After that, setting an unprecedented example in the history of military coup, General Ershad gave an announcement of coup d'etat by calling Newspapers Editors in a meeting at Dhaka Cantonment, much before actually capturing the power.
On
24h March, 1982 without any resistance and without any word, General Ershad pushed out Justice Abdus Sattar, the President elected by the people, from Bangabbaban, and on the following day he was pulled by the collar and taken to Radio and Television to make a speech to the effect that due to his inability and his Government's corruption, nepotism, etc. he had voluntarily handed over power to Army chief General Ershad and abdicated on his own accord. The old, octogenarian and infirm President Justice Abdus Sattar made his exit silently without a word for fear of life. Army Chief Lt. Gen. H. M. Ershad proclaimed Martial law in the country and he himself became Chief Martial Law Administrator .He made Justice A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury the President in name only without any authority. On secret invitation of Sheikh Hasina and with her cooperation General Ershad seized all powers and imposed himself on the people like an unmovable heavy stone.MID FEBRUARY STUDENT KILLING (1983).
Before the turn of the year, dissension cropped up silently in the secret alliance between the Chief Martial Law Administrator General Ershad and Sheikh Hasina. In the last week of January, 1983 at the official residence of Sheikh Hasina's husband Dr. Wazed Mia at Mohakhali which belonged to the Atomic Energy commission, Sheikh Hasina said - 'Lt. Gen. Ershad the khatas (wolf), is gradually slipping away from my grip. He needs to be kept under tight control."
With a view to keeping Ershad in her grip, Sheikh Hasina presented in the name of student movement a bogus plan and said - "In this student movement certain number of students will have be killed."
'With such killings, student's movement will gain momentum. An intensified student's movement will help keep, Gen. Ershad in my grip." Sheikh Hasina thus hatched a ruthless plan for the murder of students in the of name students' movement. Killing of students by any unknown killer will not do. Students will have to be killed by the military or police."
Sheikh Hasina said, This will have to be done at the cost of whatever money is needed" Everybody was busy thinking as to how this plan could be executed
Contact was established with Hafizur Rahman Laskar, Company Commander (senior S.P.) of the Armed Police. This Hafizur Rahman Laskar, being a police officer, was occupying surreptitiously the post of Deputy Director of NSA. (National Security Intelligence) for a long time. After capturing power Ershad drove away unceremoniously Hafizur Rahman Laskar from N.S.I. by saying, "What are you doing here, being a police man? Go and wearing police uniform catch thieves." Hafizur Rabman Laskar was transferred to the then Headquarters of Armed Police at 14, Mirpur and posted as the Company Commander. For this reason Hafizur Ranman Laskar was angry with General Ershad and his military rule On top of this was his greed for money. Anger, hostility to Ershad and greed for money, all combined to make Hafizur Rahman Laskar accept the proposal for killing students in the name of students' movement. N.S.I.'s main duty is to prepare list of people who work against the Government and to supply such list to the Government. And when a Government falls, all files and papers prepared during the period of the previous regime are to be burnt. The process was to be repeated.
When President Ziaur Rahman was killed on 30th May, 1981, N.S.I. officers wanted to burn all files prepared during the time of Zia or BNP Government. But when the files were about to set on fire Vice-President Justice Abdus Sattar became the Acting President, which meant that the BNP Government remained in power. As a result, NSI officer kept the files carefully in the shelves instead of burning them. Although Vice-President Sattar became the Acting President, real state power was in the hands of the Army Chief H.M. Ershad. On that strength General Ershad glanced through the N.S.l.'s files. Name of General Ershad was also there. So as soon as General Ershad came to power he drove away people like Hafizur Rahman from N.S.l. For this reason as well as for his love of money, Hafizur Rahman Laskar and others supported the plan.
In the name of students' movement a blue print for killing of students was finalized with Hafizur Rahtnan Laskar. According to the plan, a procession of students would have to be brought to Doel Yard, south of Bangla Academy, north of Curzon Hall and west of Shishu (children) Academy. The armed police will do the remaining work. Our responsibility was to bring a students procession up to the Duel yard, and then the responsibility was on the Armed police Company Commander Hafizur Rabman Laskar to kill students by firing on the procession. The
primary responsibility of bringing out the procession devolved upon the Jagannath Hall Students' Union General Secretary and members of Kaderia Force Nirunjan Sarker, Bachchu, Sadhan Sarker, ladab, Bidyut. Shyamol and others. The proposal to bring out a procession against General Ershad was discussed with the student leaders, Fazlur Rahman, Bahalul Majnun Chunnu, Dr. Mostafa lalal, K. M. Jahangir, DUCSU VP Akhtaruzzaman, G. S. Ziauddin Bablu, Faruk, Anwar, Milon. Jalal and others. Everyone was in favour of the procession.
In the beginning of the 2nd week of February date for the procession was fixed and it was decided to take the procession up to Education Bhaban. Pursuant to the discussion, a procession started from the Arts building. On the other side Hafizur Rahman Laskar was waiting eagerly like a thirsty bird with his Armed Police Force near Shishu Academy fully prepared to kill the students by firing on the procession.
The procession however, could not be taken far from the vicinity of the Arts building. Most of the student leaders, though not refusing verbally to go forward with the procession, did not actually go outside the Arts building. As a result the blueprint failed. We got agitated and harassed the student leaders, and some of the student leaders were physically hurt. Again a new date was fixed for the procession.
It was decided that on the 14h February, 1983, (1st Falgoon of Bengali era) there would be a procession of students which would proceed towards the Education Bhaban.
On the 12 of February, 83 at 8 a.m. Armed Police Company Commander was informed of the decision of the final program of student's procession of 14 February. On 13 February at 8 P.m. at the house of Hafizur Rahman Laskar at section 2, Mirpur, the program to bring the procession up to Shishu Academy at any cost was firmed up and he (Hafizur Rahman) himself was fully prepared to kill students in return of cash money paid to him.
At II O'clock at night in the Assembly building of Jaganuath Hall of Dhaka University the last secret meeting was held in the room of Niranjan Sarkar Bachchu, G.S. of Students Union and a member of Kaderia Force. In the meeting the present student leaders Niranjan Sarker Bachchu, Mobark Hossain Selim, DUCSU's Lady Secretary Nahid Amin Khan, Sadhan Sarker, Jadab, Biduyut and others were informed of the details of the students procession of 14th February including plan for killing. It was decided that student leaders Fazlur Rahman, Bahalul Maznun
Chunnu, progressive student leaders and top-ranking workers would not remain in the procession beyond the Atomic Energy Commission office under any circumstances and arrangements would have to be made accordingly.
It was the 1st of Falgoon, February 14, 1983. Spring season would start by the Calendar whether flowers blossomed or not. Everybody was delighted at the breeze of the spring, the king of the seasons. Bengali women wearing yellow Sarees with red borders had come out of their houses early in the morning to welcome the spring season. Girl students of Rokeya Hall and Shamsun Nahar Hall of Dhaka University wearing yellow sarees had been engaged in the festival since morning. The University was humming with spring festival. Some girl students wearing festive dresses were going to far off places with their boy friends. All were in joyous mood. Nobody knew what was going to happen a little later. Who was going to be killed? Which loving mother was going to lose her son? At about It) O'clock in the day students started gathering for the procession at the foot of Aparajeya Bangla in front of the Arts building. One motorcycle rider was maintaining contacts all the time with sheikh Hasina at 32 of Dhanmondi, Arts building and Hafizur Rahman Laskar of the Armed Police. The motorcycle rider (the author) was communicating with great speed the latest situation in the University to Sheikh Hasina at No 32 of Dhanmondi. Hafizur Rahman took his position at the eastern side of Shishu Academy. At about II a.m. the procession began.
Those student leaders and workers who were not to remain in the procession beyond the Atomic Energy Commission were informed of the developments.
Everything including the procession was going on in accordance with the plan. When the students procession reached Atomic Energy Commission, a few student leaders and workers slipped away from the procession from behind. The procession passed Bangla Academy and proceeded farther to Doel yard towards the south. As soon as the procession took a turn towards the east keeping the Doel yard behind, the Armed police under Hafizur Rahman opened fire-'Gurum", "Gurum' "Tash", 'Tash". Within seconds several students fell down on the ground.
The motorcycle rider went to No.32 of Dhanmondi immediately to give the news of firing to Sheikh Hasina and then proceeded to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Meanwhile the students had brought the bullet-injured students to the Emergency ward of the hospital. Of the bullet-hit
students, Joynal and Zafar breathed their last. Oh, how did their mother and their father take the death of their loved ones?
The motorcycle rider again went to No.32 of Dhanmondi with the final news of the implementation of the blueprint. After giving the news of successful killing of two students to Sheikh Hasina the motorcycle rider returned to the University.
Shadows of mourning tell on the University. The festivities of the I" of Falgoon had vanished. The students brought the dead bodies of their friends Zafar and Joynal to the historic Battala at the foot of Aparajeya Bangla. The news of Zanaja prayer and mourning meeting to be held at 3 O'clock in the afternoon was given to No.32 of Dhanmondi and Bangbandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina came to the Battala of the University at about 2 PM. She saw the bodies of the dead students and made pretension of wiping her eyes with handkerchief. She left the University without announcing any program to protest the killing. Students stricken with grief assembled at Battala and the girl student who, a little earlier were celebrating spring festival joined the condolence meeting at Battala.
Soon after leaving the University area Sheikh Hasina contacted Martial law Administrator General H.M. Ershad and secured fulfillment of certain secret demands from him in exchange of not giving any program protesting the killing of the students. After getting assurances from Sheikh Hasina, General Ershad carried on an unprecedented attack with his military and police in the University area from all sides. The multi pronged attack by the police on the students holding condolence meeting at Battala, forced the assembled students to run away for their lives. But whichever direction they were running to they were being intercepted ano beaten mercilessly by the police and army. In a moment there was no sign of any human being at Battala, except thousands of sandals and shoes lying scattered all over.
It was with great difficulty the students carried the dead bodies of Zafar and Zainul to Surya Sen Hall and locked the Hall gate from inside. Inside, there were students, teachers and employees. The whole, University area including the courtyard of the Hall was full of Police and Army personnel. Within seconds the army and the police would break open the gate and enter the Hall. Seeing no other alternative the motor-cycle rider (author) jumped out from the first floor of the Hall to its court-yard. Immediately the police force pounced on him and started beating him the way vultures grab the caracas of a cow and start eating it. The motorcycle rider, somehow
disengaged himself from them and started running towards the boundary walls of the Hall. The author was being chased by the army and police personnel. With great risk he jumped over the wall and got to Kataban and Plassey Road. He went to Rd 32 Dhanmondi but did not get Hasina there. Then he went to the house of Dr. Wazed Miah, Hasina's hausband, at Mohakhali whcrc Hasina's Pajero jeep was parked. Hasina was not found. The favourite and trusted cook of Hasina, Ramakanta said that she had put on Burqa (veil) and left loran unknown destination in a private car driven by an unknown person.
The police and the Army broke open the doors and gates of all the Halls and indiscriminately beat up the students, teachers and employees, made them sit throughout the night in the open sky and arrested some of them. They took away the lifeless bodies of Zainul and Zafar. It may be mentioned here that in those days there was no organizational presence of Begum Khaleda Zia- led B.N.P. That's why Begurn Khaleda Zia did not come to the University after the killing of the students. This was the first movement, the first uprising and the first sacrifice of the traditionally struggling simple-minded student community of the country. 1'he movement totally collapsed due to the failure of the political leadership and the machinations of Sheikh Hasina. The sacrifice of Zafar and Zainul went in vain. The military dictator Ershad held on to power without any worry. The student community became directionless and depressed in the absence of political leadership. Ershad's military administration managed the main opposition force Awami League and its leader Sheikh Hasina, as he wished and continued its ruthless rule.
The killing of Selim and Delwar
The year 1984 began, and came the month of February, the month of the Shahids (martyrs) of the Language movement. The instruction of Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu, for the New Year was to start students' movement against Ershad once again.
On February 3, 1984, a closed door meeting was held at 4 p.m. at the Bangabandhu Bhaban at Road 32, Dhanmondi. In the meeting the leader gave strict instruction to start student's movement by all means. A new conspiratorial plan was formulated. On the one hand, the job of hiring killer police officers like Hafizur Rahinan Laskar was organized and on the other, efforts to motivate the students and to mobilize students' movement were initiated.
The job of hiring killer police officers was completed in no time under the personal direction and supervision of Sheikh Hasina. But the job of mobilizing the students was not over. The students could not be mobilized even with great efforts.
The whole student community was against Ershad. But they did not trust Awami league and its leader Sheikh Hasina in matters of organizing a movement. The Begum Zia-led B.NP. did not virtually exist that lime. Days rolled by, but there was no indication of any Students' movement. It was repeatedly suggested that a procession of students be brought out, the way it was done in mid - February 1983. Sheikh Hasina was directly encouraging this. But it had no effect. At one stage Sheikh Hasina lamented - "Nothing can be accomplished by you."
We could not come out of the University with a procession of even 500 students. So the 1983 episode could not be repeated and the method of killing students had to be changed.
In the new scheme for killing students, senior S. P. Hafizur Rabman Lasker involved Riot police in place of the armed contingent. According to the plan it was decided that it if a procession of even twenty - twenty five students, at some point of time could somehow be brought out of the University, the riot police, who stayed around the University round the clock, would implement the plan for killing the students. However, even the leaders and workers of the Students' League did not want to join any procession, let alone the ordinary students.
The Leader then gave strict orders that a students procession, however small, would have to be organized. Otherwise the leaders of the Students League would he relieved of their responsibilities.
It was then decided that a procession would be brought out on February 28, and as usual, Sheikh Hasina, the leader of Awami League, was informed of this. She immediately transmitted the news to the Riot police squad through Hafizur Rahman Lasker.
On the appointed day, a procession of about thirty-four students suddenly came out of the University and started moving fast towards Fulbaria bus stand via Chan Kharpool. As had been planned earlier, a lorry of the Riot police followed the procession.
The plan this time was that the students would be killed from behind, and not from the front. Those who were aware of the plan tried their very best to be in the front part of the procession. It was generally known that the attack would come mm behind. But it was not certain whether there would be firing from the lorry or there would he a different manner of attacking the students. It was 5 p.m. in the afternoon. As soon as the small procession entered Fulbaria bus-stand, the riot police lorry gathered lightning speed and ran over the processionists. In a moment's time, Selim, who was at the rear of the procession was crushed under the wheels of the Police lorry. Though others got scattered on either side, Delwar started running straight and the police lorry followed him in great speed. Within one or two minutes, the police lorry ran over him. The body was so smashed that it became unrecognisable.
The author conveyed the news of the killing of Selim and Delwar under the wheels of the riot police van to Sheikh Hasina, who had been waiting to hear it eagerly at Bangabandhu Bhaban.
When Sheikh Hasina heard the news of the killing of two Student League leaders, she cried out 'bravo' in great delight.
Then she instructed driver Jalal to keep the car ready for her. She would go out.
When the author wanted to accompany her, she asked him and others to leave away and return to Road 32 next day in the morning'.
The next morning the motor cycle rider (author) went to Road 32, but could not find Sheikh Hasina there. He then went to Mahakhali. When he saw the Pajero Jeep and driver Jalal there, he thought that the leader would also be there. However, he did not find Hasina and got the information from the cook Ramakanta that the leader had left for an unknown destination early in the morning, in a car driven by an unknown person.
The leader returned around 1 p.m. had her lunch, and came straight to the Bangabandhu Bhaban. Quite a few Student League leaders came at about 3 p.m. and met Hasina there. When they wanted to have a plan of action against Ershad to protest against the brutal killing of Selim and Delwar, Sheikh Hasina consoled the student leaders and said, "our main enemy is Ziaur Rahman, and BNP is his party. Zia has already been eliminated. General Ershed has seized power from BNP only some time ago. Our main goal now is to completely finish BNP for
good. At this moment, we should not go directly against General Ershad. We have to keep in view that our main enemy is BNP." When the student leaders were overwhelmed with emotion at the killing of Delwar and Selim, Sheikh Hasina said "there is no point in being emotional, their families would be duty compensated. "The heartbroken student leaders left the Bangabandhu Bhaban without obtaining any plan of action.__._,_.___
