I too object to the blanket opinion expressed by Mr. Abu Zafar Mahmood that ALL professors at institutions of higher education in the then East Pakistan were comfortably enjoying the patronage of the occupying Pakistani Army. Even those who were picked up by the Al Badr- Al Shams for the purpose of mass murder on the 14th Dec. 1971 had stayed on their jobs till that time. Should we be passing negative judgments on them for not actively joining the Mukti Juddho before December? How many among them were for or against the Liberation of Bangladesh is a moot point in the matter of bringing their murderers to trial.
The purpose for which they were hunted down by the Razakars, taken to the killing fields, and were massacred in a hurry before the surrender of Pak Army on the 16th Dec is what we will be discussing in detail at the War Crimes Tribunal. A genocide is conducted with those aims which, at the Nuremberg Trial, was called "the conspiracy."
We have to deconstruct the conspiracy which, as it has transpired in the short history of Bangladesh, seems to be still alive, ever evolving and morphing.
Farida Majid
To: alapon@yahoogroups.com
From: abman1971@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 09:30:12 -0700
Subject: Re: [Alapon] Col.Taher (Retd)
Thanks Mr. Mahmood. Obaidul Quader is a good friend of mine. We stayed in the adjacent rooms of Mohshin Hall, DU. S M Fazlul Haque is like my younger brother and we have worked closely at CU. Roushini and I spent the same table at the Bijoy Mela, the previous evening he expired. I even wrote an epitaph for him in the Bijoy Mela magazine. I appreciate your views. However many CU teachers joined Liberation War. Amongst them Prof. A R. Mallick, Prof. Anisuzzaman, Professor Anupam Sen, Prof. Fazlee Hossain, Prof. Sekandar Khan (in UK), and quite few others were there.
Warm wishes.
Mannan
--
_________________________________
Abdul Mannan
Professor
School of Business
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
House # 56, Road # 4/A
Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209
Bangladesh.
BDT=GMT +6
Working Days Sunday-Thursday
E-mail: abman1971@gmail.com
http://www.ulab.edu.bd
Warm wishes.
Mannan
On Sat, Apr 2, 2011 at 4:29 AM, Abu Zafar Mahmood <rivercrossinternational@yahoo.com> wrote:
Ref: Coln Taher. Written by: Abu Zafar MahmoodThe comment of Dr.Jamir Chowdhury has come to my attention.Mr.Jamir is a professor of an university now,I have all my respect to the professor.I am sure if he would born earlier he could join in liberation war of Bangladesh and we would be more stronger.He has scope to contribute now and future.After the liberation war we found professors were save and sound in Chittagong University under the friendly administration of Pakistani occupied Army.Our educated collaborators and pro-Pakistani collaborators entertained that Army jointly.The students of CU went in liberation war but the professors stayed with Pakistan Army and collaborated them.Student Leaders;Shawkat Hafeez Khan Rushnee and S M Fazlul Haq of CU were been trained in Dehradun Military Academy in the same guerrlla leaders training batch together with me.Ex-Minister Obaidul Qader also availed training in that batch and was very close to me.He was a mere student league activist in Dhaka University.He knew my disguised name "Kiron Chakrabartee" at that time in India.We are unfortunate having some academicians that are political party biased and mistreats the patriots or could not find any lesson in academy to keep honor the heroes of our great liberation war of Bangladesh.Though we know academicians are not warriors.They have not to face life-challenge.Their brain and researches are the assests to guide the warriors and the political leaders.Does it mean they have the licenses to be coward and supportes of muscles in power?Opportunists have so many faces to change.Bangladesh is a good market to buy this opportunities.Coln Abu Taher Bir Uttam was the braviest commando soldier of our Army in his time.He believed to find Bangladesh Army as the peoples Army to contribute in guarding and at the same time Industrial and Agricultural production of the newly Independent Bangladesh.Where as we politicians and the Military structure were in believe the traditional Colonial systems.Knew nothing out of that.We did not have any academic thesis or direction to set up the country in addressing the crisis of the security of the newly born small state that threatened from outside the border and also in internal chaos.Entire leadership was confused like the general public.Everybody needed the change but nobody knew the solution as we were unprepared to run the Independent nation.Who saw a nation in this region where the general poor peoples were the major forces of the liberation war? Upper class were pro-establishment and pro-Pakistani.Coln Mohammad Abu Taher Biruttam commanded number 11 sector of the liberation War(Mymenshing,Tangail and part of Shatkhira).Most women guerrilla were trained under his command.Special commando groups were trained by him.Bongobir Kader Siddiqee Bir uttam found sapport from him training and operations.Dhaka sector was commanded by Major Shafiullah`s "S" force.It was Abu Taher only one among the sector commanders who attacked Pakistan Army Headquarter in Dhaka Cantonment on 14 November and damaged them.Indian Army did not like Muktibahinees Attack and capture the Cantonment.Taher was injured by granade attack from his very near and Indian doctors cut off his one leg in Hospital.A Top most awarded commando officer(Captain) in then Pakistan Army and promoted in Major rank within 4 months in Pakistan military history and moreover being a Bangali, deserve criticize for his action based on information and perspective of the time also.However,He was hanged and punished ruthlessly.Nation did not agree with his military strategy to build Bangladesh Arm forces.Is Bangladesh save from external and internal threat with the traditional politics and security idea?Even we accept Taher was wrong on his strategy at that time.Engineer Siraj Sikder commanded liberation war with different ideological beliefand did not go under Indian command.We confronted him.He blamed us Indian agents and treated us enemy of the pro-liberation forces.We admire his patriotism and differed with his explanation in some points.In the long run there was scopes to make him belief that we don`t serve Indian purpose though India has interest to break Pakistan and form a weak state under their guidence.But the liberation war was interupted and Pakistan Army had to surreneder to the Indians and Mukti Bahini and Bangladesh Government were not allowed to sign in the surrendering docs winner hero.The road was build to walk that is our land but Indians made a deed of docs that Pakistan Army surrendered to their Eastern Command.We have been loosing our Military commanders and loosing the security pillars since the Independence.We lost our state leaders and lost our leadership to lead.No politicians are compared with Bongo Bondhu Mujib as he was known for his personality.Ziaur Rahman Biruttam started Journey and built a security net in more than 1oo Muslim Country and US-Eorope.He was also murdered more rithlessly than the way he murdered Taher.No parts of his body was found.Taher`s another friend Military Historian Abul Monzoor Bir Uttam was assassinated in Chittagong in the same plot who could contribute the Army. However,the entire Military killing was controlled from one command that targets to distabilize the Security of Bangladesh as I noticed with proofs.Bangladesh has jumped again to regain strength with Noble Laureate Professor Mohammed Yunus.One regional and local alliance jointly has been trying best to eliminate his image from the global leadership.Bangladesh will win in this part of battle as Yunus is already the part and parcel of the global leadership that is far stronger than the regional player.He is the light house for Bangladesh.The purpose of writing Mr.Jamir Chowdhury is very clear.It is not to involve cross arguement for the past.Past provides us experience.But to let know that Bangladesh is under Alternative battle,a different technique of battle which is not compared with traditional battle to look at but dangerous than that.It appears as friendship and damages many fields at a time or step by step. I may send you my thesis on it in near future.Best wishes to Professor Jamir Chowdhury.Abu Zafar Mahmood,NewYorkFree-lancer and political analyst.
Sent: Sat, April 2, 2011 3:34:44 AM
From: Dr. Jamir Chowdhury <americamyland@gmail.com>
To: alapon@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Abdul Mannan <abman1971@gmail.com>; chottala@yahoogroups.com; khabor@yahoogroups.com; Diagnose@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Alapon] Col.Taher (Retd)
Dear Sir, I appreciate and thank you for your article. You clearly stated that Siraj Sikder was a Maoist and Noxalities. I would like to add that he fought against the liberation war and killed many freedom fighters. He was no different than a Pakistani soldier who killed, tortured and raped my people during the liberation war. Siraj Shikder should have been brought to justice. I believe, document will show that a number of army officers including late Gen. Shawkat, Sisu and others supported Zia for killing Col. Taher. However, it was Zia who killed Taher. What was the role of Gen. Ershad at that time? It would be very interesting to know. Though Col. Taher's killing was unfolded, I would like to hear more about Gen. Manjoor's death and the reason behind it. Was Manjoor thep planner/ killer of Zia? I think, all the evidences would show that Majoor was not a planner or killer. He was removed by Gen. Ershad to paved his way to power. It is the right time to unfold real reasons behind the killing of one of the most brilliant officers in the Army, Gen. Manjoor. Thanks.Regards,Jamir ChowdhuryProfessor and Director------------------------------------------------------
On Sat, Apr 2, 2011 at 6:32 AM, Abdul Mannan <abman1971@gmail.com> wrote:
My fortnightly column appears in today's Daily Sun. It is on Col (retd) Taher. It s copied below.
Thanks.
Todays NewspaperEditorialFeatureePaper
Home Editorial Post-Log
![]()
Abdul Mannan
To the present generation the name Shiraj Shikder may be unknown. Late Shiraj Shikder was a believer of extreme ultra leftist political ideology in the mid sixties and propagated the philosophy that revolution is only possible through the uprising of the proletariats and physical annihilation of bourgeoisie (class enemy). Only proletariats have the right to rule. China's Chairman Mao Tze Tung was their friend philosopher and guide and they declared Chairman Mao as their Chairman. The violent politics of Shiraj Sikder and his party Purbo Banglar Shorbohara (Proletariat) Party was heavily influenced by Communist Part of India (Marxist-Leninist) founded in the Naxalbari of Darjeeling district in North Bengal, India by Charu Majumder, Kanu Sanyal and others. Killing of land owners, money lenders, government and police officials became rampant in the mid sixties and early seventies in Midnapur, West Dinajpur, Bihar, Darjeeling and adjoining areas. The wave of brutal violence crossed the border and entered the then East Pakistan with the active patronage and participation of Shiraj Shikder and his party (later the party split into many factions). Even to this day some of the activist of the party still operates in and around Kushtia, Jessore, Pabna and Khulna in many different names (Maobadi, Jonojuddho, Lalpotaka, etc). In India they exist in the name of Naxalites, Maobadi, Peoples War Group and their activities have gone beyond North or West Bengal to Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jamshedpur, MP. They are all into killing, extortion, arson, kidnapping for ransom all over.
Immediately after the Liberation of Bangladesh it was expected that the anti people activities of Shiraj Shikder will cease, which did not. His comrade in arms, Abdul Matin and Alauddin even waged armed war against the Bangladesh army in Atrai of Pabna district of 1973. Abdul Hoque, another cohort of Shiraj Shikder on December 16, 1974 wrote a letter to the President of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, addressing him as 'My President' requesting him to give him arms and money to topple the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Finally Shiraj Shikder was arrested by the police from Halishahar in Chittagong in December 1974, and when he was being taken from Dhaka to Savar he was killed by police while he was escaping according to the police press note. Whatever were the circumstances, the fact was this was an act of extrajudicial killing as he died in police custody, and as in the case of any other extrajudicial killing, it is a condemnable offence and any one can go to the court of law asking for justice.
The background of the cold blooded murder of our valiant Freedom Fighter Col Taher was totally different. The entire family of Col. Taher participated in our War of Liberation. During the war one of his legs was blown off by the enemy shell. After the war was over he remained in the army and was posted in Comilla. He had his own dream of replacing the conventional army of Bangladesh with a more productive 'People's Army.' He dreamt of changing the structure of the army. May be his philosophy had merit but the process was not proper as it was neither practical nor feasible to change the fundamental nature of the army of a country by one person's singular idea and philosophy. He soon realized this would perhaps not be possible and took an early retirement towards the end of 1972 and joined as a Director of Dredging Corporation of Bangladesh, a government undertaking. Soon he got inducted into JSD politics.
JSD was the first opposition party formed in Bangladesh with the slogan of establishing 'Scientific Socialism' in Bangladesh. Rightly or wrongly they thought the emancipation of the people will only be possible through establishing the rule of 'Scientific Socialism.' To begin with, first Chatra League split in 1972 on the eve of DUCSU election into two. One faction was called 'Mujibadi' SL and the other faction labeled themselves as 'Boigganik Shamajtontri.' Later JSD was formed by Sirajul Alam Khan and others. Whether it was the students' front or the main party, all front ranking party leaders came from Awami League. Later some retired military personnel joined the party and its rank and file swelled. It was able to attract many promising youths. This was a time when the world was witnessing a sudden rise and success of socialism in many countries. America lost the Vietnam War. Marxist Salvador Allende was elected the President of Chile. India became closer to former Soviet Union and the Non Aligned Movement became stronger. Bangladesh adopted 'socialism' as one of its state principles. The slain Marxist Revolutionary Che Guevara became a hero of the young generation. It was 'Marxism and Socialism' all the way. But unfortunately JSD politics could not make much headway because of short sighted leadership and other reasons. AL was too big and strong a party to challenge. In hindsight the young people who joined this brand of politics were at best 'Romantic Revolutionaries.' But with all fairness the initial years of JSD was quite promising.
Though personally not a believer of JSD politics I always thought the hanging of Taher in 1976 was pure and simple pre-meditated cold blooded murder. In 1980 I had the chance of reading the American journalist Lawrence Lifschultz's book 'Bangladesh: The Unfinished Revolution.' The book published in London the previous year was immediately proscribed in Bangladesh by Zia Government. After reading the book, my personal respect for Col Taher increased manifold. To me he became an ultimate example of a true patriot. In 2008, while attending an International Conference on Bangladesh at Harvard University I happened to meet Mr. Lifschultz personally. He attended a session which I presided, came and introduced himself. We spent about an hour taking about different aspects of Bangladesh politics and the coming general election. Soon we started calling each other by our first names and he informed that he planned to write the sequel of his original book and for that he might come to Bangladesh. However he came to Bangladesh to give testimony to the events prevailing at the time of trial of Col Taher. During 1976 he came to Dhaka from Delhi to cover the trial for now defunct weekly 'Far Eastern Economic Review.' Mr. Lifschultz is a real professional, courageous and extremely responsible journalist.
After the brutal assassination of Bangabandu on 15 August 1975, and the four national leaders in the Dhaka Central Jail on November 3 1975, the country virtually did not have a functioning government from 3 to 7 November and there existed no chain of command in the Army. The country was heading towards a total chaos. Brig. Khaled Musharraf tried to restore the chain of command along with some officers loyal to him but failed due to inept handling of the events and lack of farsightedness. Eventually they were also killed. Unfortunately all killed were valiant Freedom Fighters of 1971. In a total confusion prevailing in the country and the Dhaka Cantonment Zia was taken hostage by soldiers, some of them believed to be indoctrinated by JSD politics. Whatever was the situation, it was very confusing. Zia called his friend Col Taher to save his life. Taher responded, came and convinced the soldiers and freed Zia, who in turn thanked Taher for saving his life. But Zia was very clever, shrewd and to some extent a futurist. He could feel that Col. Taher though no longer in the army was still quite popular among the troops. Zia had Taher arrested on November 24 from his residence in Dhaka. On June 14, 1976 he had the Chief Martial Law Administrator and President Justice ASM Sayem promulgate an Ordinance to constitute a Special Tribunal to try Col Taher for mutiny and treason in the army. Along with Taher 32 others were also charged of whom 18 were serving army personnel and the rest were civilians. Though the trial was named as State vs Major (Retd) Jalil and others, from the very beginning it was clear that the main target was Col. Taher. The trial was in camera, the accused were not allowed to talk to their defense lawyers, except on the day of hearing and everyone had to take an oath of secrecy. Only Daily Ittefaq ran news of the commencing of the trial on June 21. The Editor Mr. Anwar Hossain was summoned by Army HQ and warned. The trial ended on July 12 covering 12 working days. This was a summary trial by all definition. On 17 July Col Yousuf Haider, the Chief of the Tribunal announced the judgment sentencing Col. Taher to death and others to different terms of imprisonment. Col. Haider was one of those Bengali officers in the Pakistan Army who in spite of being in Bangladesh in March 1971 did not think it necessary to fight in the War of Liberation. Col. Taher' death sentence came as a surprise even to the State Prosecutors as they never appealed for death sentence as the law under which Col Taher and other's were being tried did not have provision for death sentence. However this anomaly was amended ten days after Col Taher was hanged on the morning of 21. July only after nine days of the pronouncement of the judgment. Usually there is a gap of 21 days between verdict and execution. Even this was not followed in the case of Col Taher. During Zia's regime many such rules were flouted. He ran the Presidential election while being in service, and promoted himself after his retirement. Many BNP leaders say that Taher was responsible for killing of sixty army officers. However he was never tried for this alleged involvement in these killings, but tried for mutiny and treason.
The recent trial of Col. Taher's leading to 'judicial' murder was a landmark in our history. Taher will not return but his memory will live forever and hopefully it will haunt those who were responsible for such a cowardly act. Long live the memory of Col Taher, Bir Uttam.
The writer is a former Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University.
--
--
_________________________________
Abdul Mannan
Professor
School of Business
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
House # 56, Road # 4/A
Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209
Bangladesh.
BDT=GMT +6
Working Days Sunday-Thursday
E-mail: abman1971@gmail.com
http://www.ulab.edu.bd
__._,_.___
[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com
Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
__,_._,___