[ALOCHONA] Liberation War revisited

Liberation War revisited

This book is a first hand account of the independence struggle, by three eminent citizens who resolve several debates and bring to light hitherto untold details of the war

When the people of a nation are involved in an historical movement, it is the norm of history to record their experiences and reactions for posterity. Towards the end of the 18th century, after the French Revolution, this method of writing history developed further. Unfortunately, even though Bangladesh War of Independence was a people's struggle, till date there are very few books on the war have been written that are accurate and factual with the required degree of neutrality.

Other than a handful of books, most of the published accounts of the Liberation War are tarnished by some form of bias or the other. The writers of these books have failed to rise above narrow individual or partisan viewpoints to recount history in an untarnished manner. However, the Muktijuddha Gobeshona Kendra (Liberation War Research Centre) has taken a special initiative in this regard.

The Muktijuddha Gobeshona Kendra was established in 1990 with the aim of recording accurate accounts of history through thorough research and investigation. In 1996 they took up an initiative called Kothya Itihash or Oral History. As part of this initiative, in September and October 2002, joint discussions of three eminent persons were recorded on audio cassette. The three persons who participated in the discussions were Deputy Commander of the Liberation War AK Khandakar; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh's government-in-exile Maidul Hasan; and Director General of Jubo Shibir, the youth camp formed for the freedom fighters, SR Mirza.

Salahuddin Ahmed, President of the Muktijuddha Gobeshona Kendra, says, "The discussions went on for nine days. After the recorded discussions were transcribed, the transcripts were given to the participants to edit and change as they felt appropriate. Their discussions were completely their own commentaries, a relating of their experiences and viewpoints.

During the discussions, these persons spoke about how the war began, about the non-cooperation movement and other events and incidents of 1971. Many hitherto unknown bits of information surfaced during these discussions and will certainly enrich the historical account of the struggle. The publishers Prothoma Prokashon deserve kudos for publishing these discussions in the form of a book, Muktijuddher Purbapor.

One of the chapters in this book is named Shadhinotar Ghoshona (The Declaration of Independence). This chapter with clarity discusses the declaration of independence, doing away with all ambiguity caused by the fracas between Awami League and BNP.

One of the three discussants, AK Khandakar, is the Planning Minister for the present government. He says, "During the Liberation War, there was no debate or differences concerning the declaration of independence. This debate only arose after independence. When the Pakistan Army cracked down on the night of March 25, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Shaheb was arrested. So the question arises, how did the declaration of independence come to be? Curfew was imposed around the entire country on March 26. It was during that curfew that a number of Bengali officers and employees of the radio station there decided that something should be announced over the radio. I remember some of their names, but not their posts. They drafted a declaration of independence and took that to the Kalurghat Radio Station on March 26 and broadcast it. This was recorded on tape in Zia's voice and Zia read it out on March 27 before evening fell. That is the plain and factual truth.

Maidul Hasan: "In the evening of March 25 when President Yahya Khan left this country, a serious crisis erupted. Everyone was confused about what to do. At that time Tajuddin Ahmed and certain other leaders gathered together at Dhanmandi Road 32, that is Sheikh Mujibur's house. Tajuddin Ahmed took a tape recorder and handed over Sheikh Shaheb a draft declaration to read. I heard this from Tajuddin Ahmed himself. Immediately after the war when I began collecting information about the Liberation War, I questioned Tajuddin about this. The declaration was written by Tajuddin Ahmed himself…

"According to Tajuddin, he said, "Mujib Bhai, you have to read this because we don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. If we are all arrested, no one will know what to do. We will copy this declaration from somewhere or the other and let them know. If the radio can be used, that is what will be done." Sheikh Shaheb replied, "This will be a document against me. They (Pakistanis) can use this to level charges of sedition against me." Angered at this response, Tajuddin Ahmed left the house on Road 32 at around nine that night.

"Abdul Momen grasped Tajuddin's hand and asked him, 'Why are you leaving in anger?' Tajuddin told him about the matter and said, 'Bangabandhu didn't even want to take this risk though we are certainly going to come under attack.' Later, about a year after the incident, it was said that just before the killing began, Sheikh Shaheb himself sent the news through the EPR Signals to Chittagong and other parts of the country. As far as I know, Signals are always manned by very trusted persons. Signals are the main means of communication for the defence and attack of any force. EPR was a mixed force with many non-Bengalis too. Surely they wouldn't be sidestepped and the suspected Bengalis be given the controls. It is most unlikely and unrealistic to believe that Sheikh Mujib would send the declaration of independence through the EPR Signals.

"Later it was also said that Sheikh Shaheb sent the declaration of independence to Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury in Chittagong. In June 1971, the Bangladesh leaders began insisting that India officially recognize Bangladesh. The India government expressed grave doubts concerning the declaration of independence. The Indian government asked the members of the Bangladesh cabinet and other main leaders whether Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had said anything before he left. Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury was among the leaders there and all of them said that Sheikh Mujib hadn't said anything to anyone before leaving. Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury himself told Tajuddin that he hadn't said anything…"

AK Khandakar: I will relate as much as I know, as much as I can remember. About this declaration, as I said before, nothing more was heard of this during the Liberation War. At that time we hadn't heard anything about any declaration being sent to Chittagong or Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury. This debate only arose after independence.

I know for a fact now, and knew it during the war and after the war, that the declaration read out by Major Zia had a positive impact on the freedom fighters at the border and within the country, as well as the common people countrywide. People began to believe that, yes, now Bangladesh had really started a war…"

Maidul Hasan: "When I heard the announcement made by Major Zia over radio, I thought, yes, large numbers of the armed forced had actually revolted. This created a huge reaction in my mind and I was inspired. Those around me too were inspired by the announcement. So the question doesn't arise about belittling Ziaur Rahman concerning his contribution at that time.

"It is not that he did everything and that his declaration led to independence. That cannot be accepted. It is just that a leader played his part in the entire process of the ongoing people's movement. Some people's roles are small, some are big and some are epoch-making – all this is part and parcel of a movement. It is like a relay race."

SR Mirza: "As long as Sheikh Mujib was alive, no questions were raised about this issue, there was no debate. Even during the rule of Ziaur Rahman this issue was not raised. The issue arose a few years after Ziaur Rahman's death in 1981. When BNP came to power again in 1991, Awami League tried to belittle Ziaur Rahman. It was from then that the debate over the issue grew."

Other topics of interest covered in this book include the mindset of the army, the army officers repatriated from Pakistan, Jubo Shibir, leadership of the Joint Armed Forces, other forces, Mujib Bahini, the post-independence period, etc. These discussions have thrashed out effectively all the controversies and debates which have revolved around these issues.

During the discussions, each discussant accepted the logic, arguments and views of the others. Though a year has passed since the publication of this book, no one has come up to refute any of the statements made therein and no protest has been lodged. The statements of these three persons who witnessed the Liberation War first hand are certainly important, real and plausible.

http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=7078

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