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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

[mukto-mona] Global Media Statement on Harassment of mystic singers Bauls



Harassment, Arrest, Intimidation of Bauls threatens Freedom of Expression

GLOBAL MEDIA STATEMENT


[18 February 2020]

 

W

e, the media rights defenders of international and national freedom of expression organizations are concerned regarding the recent harassment, detention, and intimidation of the traditional Bauls, the mystic singers of Bangladesh.

In the month of January 2020, Sufi folk singer Baul Shariat Sarkar was arrested under the draconian Digital Security Act, 2018 when an Islamic cleric filed a blasphemy case against Sarkar for "stating that music is not forbidden in the Quran."

Similarly, two cases were filed against Baul Rita Dewan for "hurting religious sentiments" of the Muslims for her Pala-Gaan (logical debate through folk songs) performance. In fear of retaliation and personal harm, she long with her two young daughters made a public apology.

In both cases, the vested group is misusing the Digital Security Act, 2018, as a weapon to punish minorities of other faiths, folk singers and social media users too. If convicted, the Cyber Tribunal (Bangladesh) can give a verdict of a hefty fine and jail-term for up to seven years.

Notwithstanding, the media rights defenders had been warning the authorities about the misuse of the draconian Digital Security Act, 2018 which criminalises freedom of expression and has been applied to detain several journalists, writers, poets, publishers, and bloggers.

Surely, the Islamists are a serious threat to the Baul community as they often preach hate against the women, people of other faiths and of course music and cultural events. They intimidate the Baul singers to silence the traditional cultural heritage.

The question and answer session in Pala-Gaan used mystical and esoteric language, which may be misunderstood by the audience which focuses on external, literal interpretations of Sufi interpretation of society.

Conventionally the mystic song is an icon of rich folklore tradition, which is imbibed into Bangla heritage and must be protected as a cultural tradition.

To engage in Pala-Gaan, the mystic Sufi singers must have deep knowledge of different faiths, spiritualism, philosophy and contemporary issues.

The Bauls are essential in strengthening democracy, freedom of expression, philosophical debate, as well as tolerance in diversity.

Instead of protecting the folklore heritage, the draconian laws challenge the century-old tradition of freedom of belief and freedom of expression.

The nation-state was founded on the principles of secularism, pluralism, and equality for all to promote harmony among the diverse communities and cultural traditions of the land.

We are deeply disturbed that the intimidation on the Bauls violates the basic freedom of expression and freedom of faith.

We urge the Government of Bangladesh to protect its citizens from the radicalized religious groups.

We expect that the Government must act in upholding the unique traditions of secularism, freedom of faith, and tolerance in a bid to strengthen the visions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh.

Endorsed and signed by Media Rights Defenders:

  1. Dr. Aireen Jaman, General Secretary, PEN International, Bangladesh, London;
  2. Faruq Faisel, South Asia Regional Director, Article 19, London;
  3. Saleem Samad, Correspondent, Reporter Without Borders (RSF), Paris;
  4. Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, CEO, VOICE, Dhaka
  5. Khairuzzaman Kamal, Representative International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels;
  6. Mainul Islam Khan, Representative, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York;
  7. Biplob Mostafiz, Member, Mukto Prakash (FExB), Media Rights Defender;
  8. Sayeed Ahmad, Representative, Front Line Defenders, Dublin, Ireland;
  9. Ahamad Ullah, Member, Bangladesh Manabadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), Dhaka;
  10. GM Mourtaza, CEO, CCD Bangladesh; Rajshahi.
  11. Jana Syeda Gulshan Ferdous, somewhereinblog.net

For more information, please contact Saleem Samad: +88-01711-530207; Faruq Faisel: +88-01730-710267, or send emails: saleemsamad@hotmail.com; faruq@article19.org



Joy Manush! Humanity First!


><((((o>><((((o><o))))><><((((o>
SALEEM Samad
Ashoka Fellow (USA)
Recipient of Hellman-Hammett Award, 2005
General Secretary: Forum for Freedom of Expression, Bangladesh - #FExB
+8801711-530207 phone

+1-718-713-4364 ePhone
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Email:forumforFEXB@gmail.com

Twitter: @saleemsamad

Skype: saleemsamad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saleem.samad

Blog: http://bangladeshwatchdog.blogspot.com/

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[mukto-mona] Fw: [ALOCHONA] A Tribute to Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha







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Subject: [ALOCHONA] A Tribute to Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha
 
 



A Tribute to Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha

                                 




Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha 

 

 

Writer: Muktijoddha Dr. Mohsin Ali, New York, USA



Introduction:

Today is the 18th February of 2020, the 51st Death (Shaheed) Anniversary of Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha, PhD. He was killed on this 18th February in 1969 by the Pakistani Army in the Student demonstration organized in front of Rajshahi University. Dr. Shamsuzzoha was a Reader/Professor of Chemistry and the Proctor of Rajshahi University. He was responsible for maintaining relations with the students. He was born in 1934. He was 35-year-old when he was killed. He left behind his wife Nilufar Zoha and a daughter.



Dr. Shamsuzzoha was the first Shaheed Intellectual and a University Teacher before and during the liberation war of Bangladesh who was killed by the Pakistani military forces on the 18th February of 1969 during the 11-Point Students-Peoples' revolutionary movement organized in East Pakistan against the Pakistani President Ayub Khan's occupation, which ultimately was escalated and became the full-fledged Armed-Liberation War of Bangladesh.



Life of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha:

Dr. Zoha was born in the district of Bankura in West Bengal, India. After the India partition, he migrated to erstwhile East Pakistan in 1950. He passed his matriculation examination in 1948 from Bankura Zilla School and passed Isc (Intermediate of Science) examination in 1950 from Bankura Christian College. He achieved BSc (honours) degree in Chemistry in 1953 and MSc in 1954 from Dhaka University. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha also participated bravely in the Bengali Language Movement during his university life. In 1964, he obtained his PhD degree from Imperial College of London.

At first, Mohammad Shamsuzzoha joined Rajshahi University as a Development Officer in 1961 and on that year he also became a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. He was promoted as Reader of the Chemistry Department. On 1 May 1968, he received the Proctor post of the university. He was the first university teacher who was martyred from 1947 to 1969. The martyr Day, 18 February is observed as the Shahid Zoha Dibos (Martyr Zoha Day) in Bangladesh.



The victory of 11-Point-Movement of 1969 Brought the Victory of Liberation War of 1971 ;



Shaheed Dr.. Shamsuzzoha was a martyr during the 11-Points Students'-Mass Movement launched in 1968-69 against the Pakistani dictator President Field Marshal General Ayub Khan.. This Mass Movement was started in 1968 in protest of the False Agartala Conspiracy Case lodged for the cessation of East Pakistan by the Pakistani Ruler against the Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates who were arrested and imprisoned in Dhaka Central Jail. The Movement started by the students of all Universities, Colleges and Schools of the then East Pakistan from the end of 1968 against President Ayub Khan which gradually began to get momentum as the common mass movement and the peoples of all walks of life joined the movement. During different stages of the movement, the student leader Shaheed Asadduzzaman was killed by the army on 20 January 1969, and Sergeant Jahurul Haq, an accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case was killed in Dhaka Cantonment on 15 February 1969.



These killings shocked and agitated the Bengalis of East Pakistan who had been occupied, suppressed, ruled, ignored and exploited since 1947 by the Pakistani Rulers who were the West Pakistanis. The peoples of all sectors of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) joined the students and pushed the mass movement to a greater nation-wide protest-movement. In such a backdrop, the students of Rajshahi University started agitation and on 17 February a number of students were injured in police action.



On 18 February of 1969, the thousands of students of Rajshahi University organized a demonstration at the main gate of the University. At the same time the local Civil, Police and Military administrations imposed Section 144 on the Natore-Rajshahi Highway adjacent to Rajshahi University.. The agitated students decided to violate Section 144 in the area where army personnel were deployed to shoot at the students. Thousands of students from the Colleges of Rajshahi City, Medical College an Engineers College joined the demonstrations from the other side. The Military and Police charged batons against the students and blasted Gas-Bombs on the students. The Military fired on the air to intimidate the students and tried to disburse the students from the demonstration and asked the students to leave the street and go back to their classes. But the students were determined to continue their demonstration and break Section 144. There were fist-fighting going on between the demonstrating students and the Police.



The Proctor Dr. Shamsuzzoha was informed about the burning situation and he rushed to the spot and tried to get his students back to their classes and dormitories. He talked to the army officers and urged upon them to abstain from firing upon the students. But the army defied his request and started firing upon the demonstrating students. Dr. Zoha was also wounded by a bullet shot. He was taken to the Military carrying truck where the Military charged bayonet on his body multiple times. Although he was carried to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment it was too late. Dr. Shamsuzzoha was breathed his last at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.



Dr. Shamsuzzoha was buried in front of the administrative building of Rajshahi University. A beautiful and colourful Monument was built on his Graveyard in front of the Administrative Building of Rajshahi University to commemorate his ultimate sacrifice. A Student Hall was also built in his name in honour of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha's highest sacrifice for the Nation.

The death of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha added a new dimension in the anti-Ayub mass movement, as well as the fall of Ayub government was quickened. The whole East Pakistan was burst into the Mass-Movement, even the common people of West Pakistan and the world leaders, peoples and Media demonstrated protests against the killings of Dr. Shamsuzzoha and others in East Pakistan by the Army Ruler General Ayub Khan's killing spree intention. As a result, on the 26th of March of 1969, President Ayub Khan was forced to resign as the President and Ruler of Pakistan and General Yahya Khan took over the power and declared himself as the new President and Marshall Law Administrator of Pakistan. He imposed new Marshall Law in Pakistan and suspended the Constitution. Finally, President Ayub Khan's 11 years of Rule (from 1958 to 1969) was ended on March 26, of 1969.



Immediate after taking over the Power of Pakistan, the new President General Yahya Khan withdrew the false Agartala Conspiracy Case. The Awami League Leader and the Chief Accused of the False Agartala Conspiracy Case Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates were released from Dhaka Central without any conditions. The victorious students and Mass-People organized a public meeting at the Shuhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka for honouring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman where he was awarded the Title "Banbgobandu". Since then Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is known as the "Bangabandhu" in Bangladesh and in the world.



Pakistan's new Military Dictator and Ruler President General Yahya Khan promised to give true democracy in Pakistan including a new National General Election with the one-man-one-vote system, unlike Ayub Khan's Basic democracy. East Pakistan had the majority of the population of 56% as opposed to 44% of West Pakistan. Accordingly, East Pakistan got 169 Seats and West Pakistan got 131 Seats out of total 300 Seats of the National Assembly of Pakistan. The General Election was held in December of 1970 and the Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 167 out of 300 Seats, the absolute majority in the Pakistan National Assembly. But the Pakistani Military Junta ultimately refuse to hand over the State Power of Pakistan to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, rather the Pakistani Military cracked down on the Bengalis and arrested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman..



Bangabandhu declared the Independence of Bangladesh just before his arrest in the early morning of 26 March of 1971. Finally, Bangladesh was liberated and became the independent sovereign nation on its Victory Day of December 16, 1971.



On this Day of his 51st Martyr Anniversary (18 February 1969 to 18 February 2020), we salute to this great patriot human being Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha. He will continue to live in the hearts of the peoples of independent Bangladesh forever and for the years to come.



References:

1. ^ After the partition of India he migrated to the East Bengal.,

2. ^ Jump up to:a b c Murshed, Md Mahbub (2012). "Shamsuzzoha, Shaheed Mohammad". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. 3. Wikipedia.

 




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Posted by: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>


****************************************************
Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190





__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] A Tribute to Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha





A Tribute to Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha

                                 




Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha 

 

 

Writer: Muktijoddha Dr. Mohsin Ali, New York, USA



Introduction:

Today is the 18th February of 2020, the 51st Death (Shaheed) Anniversary of Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha, PhD. He was killed on this 18th February in 1969 by the Pakistani Army in the Student demonstration organized in front of Rajshahi University. Dr. Shamsuzzoha was a Reader/Professor of Chemistry and the Proctor of Rajshahi University. He was responsible for maintaining relations with the students. He was born in 1934. He was 35-year-old when he was killed. He left behind his wife Nilufar Zoha and a daughter.



Dr. Shamsuzzoha was the first Shaheed Intellectual and a University Teacher before and during the liberation war of Bangladesh who was killed by the Pakistani military forces on the 18th February of 1969 during the 11-Point Students-Peoples' revolutionary movement organized in East Pakistan against the Pakistani President Ayub Khan's occupation, which ultimately was escalated and became the full-fledged Armed-Liberation War of Bangladesh.



Life of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha:

Dr. Zoha was born in the district of Bankura in West Bengal, India. After the India partition, he migrated to erstwhile East Pakistan in 1950. He passed his matriculation examination in 1948 from Bankura Zilla School and passed Isc (Intermediate of Science) examination in 1950 from Bankura Christian College. He achieved BSc (honours) degree in Chemistry in 1953 and MSc in 1954 from Dhaka University. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha also participated bravely in the Bengali Language Movement during his university life. In 1964, he obtained his PhD degree from Imperial College of London.

At first, Mohammad Shamsuzzoha joined Rajshahi University as a Development Officer in 1961 and on that year he also became a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. He was promoted as Reader of the Chemistry Department. On 1 May 1968, he received the Proctor post of the university. He was the first university teacher who was martyred from 1947 to 1969. The martyr Day, 18 February is observed as the Shahid Zoha Dibos (Martyr Zoha Day) in Bangladesh.



The victory of 11-Point-Movement of 1969 Brought the Victory of Liberation War of 1971 ;



Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha was a martyr during the 11-Points Students'-Mass Movement launched in 1968-69 against the Pakistani dictator President Field Marshal General Ayub Khan. This Mass Movement was started in 1968 in protest of the False Agartala Conspiracy Case lodged for the cessation of East Pakistan by the Pakistani Ruler against the Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates who were arrested and imprisoned in Dhaka Central Jail. The Movement started by the students of all Universities, Colleges and Schools of the then East Pakistan from the end of 1968 against President Ayub Khan which gradually began to get momentum as the common mass movement and the peoples of all walks of life joined the movement. During different stages of the movement, the student leader Shaheed Asadduzzaman was killed by the army on 20 January 1969, and Sergeant Jahurul Haq, an accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case was killed in Dhaka Cantonment on 15 February 1969.



These killings shocked and agitated the Bengalis of East Pakistan who had been occupied, suppressed, ruled, ignored and exploited since 1947 by the Pakistani Rulers who were the West Pakistanis. The peoples of all sectors of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) joined the students and pushed the mass movement to a greater nation-wide protest-movement. In such a backdrop, the students of Rajshahi University started agitation and on 17 February a number of students were injured in police action.



On 18 February of 1969, the thousands of students of Rajshahi University organized a demonstration at the main gate of the University. At the same time the local Civil, Police and Military administrations imposed Section 144 on the Natore-Rajshahi Highway adjacent to Rajshahi University. The agitated students decided to violate Section 144 in the area where army personnel were deployed to shoot at the students. Thousands of students from the Colleges of Rajshahi City, Medical College an Engineers College joined the demonstrations from the other side. The Military and Police charged batons against the students and blasted Gas-Bombs on the students. The Military fired on the air to intimidate the students and tried to disburse the students from the demonstration and asked the students to leave the street and go back to their classes. But the students were determined to continue their demonstration and break Section 144. There were fist-fighting going on between the demonstrating students and the Police.



The Proctor Dr. Shamsuzzoha was informed about the burning situation and he rushed to the spot and tried to get his students back to their classes and dormitories. He talked to the army officers and urged upon them to abstain from firing upon the students. But the army defied his request and started firing upon the demonstrating students. Dr. Zoha was also wounded by a bullet shot. He was taken to the Military carrying truck where the Military charged bayonet on his body multiple times. Although he was carried to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment it was too late. Dr. Shamsuzzoha was breathed his last at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.



Dr. Shamsuzzoha was buried in front of the administrative building of Rajshahi University. A beautiful and colourful Monument was built on his Graveyard in front of the Administrative Building of Rajshahi University to commemorate his ultimate sacrifice. A Student Hall was also built in his name in honour of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha's highest sacrifice for the Nation.

The death of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha added a new dimension in the anti-Ayub mass movement, as well as the fall of Ayub government was quickened. The whole East Pakistan was burst into the Mass-Movement, even the common people of West Pakistan and the world leaders, peoples and Media demonstrated protests against the killings of Dr. Shamsuzzoha and others in East Pakistan by the Army Ruler General Ayub Khan's killing spree intention. As a result, on the 26th of March of 1969, President Ayub Khan was forced to resign as the President and Ruler of Pakistan and General Yahya Khan took over the power and declared himself as the new President and Marshall Law Administrator of Pakistan. He imposed new Marshall Law in Pakistan and suspended the Constitution. Finally, President Ayub Khan's 11 years of Rule (from 1958 to 1969) was ended on March 26, of 1969.



Immediate after taking over the Power of Pakistan, the new President General Yahya Khan withdrew the false Agartala Conspiracy Case. The Awami League Leader and the Chief Accused of the False Agartala Conspiracy Case Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates were released from Dhaka Central without any conditions. The victorious students and Mass-People organized a public meeting at the Shuhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka for honouring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman where he was awarded the Title "Banbgobandu". Since then Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is known as the "Bangabandhu" in Bangladesh and in the world.



Pakistan's new Military Dictator and Ruler President General Yahya Khan promised to give true democracy in Pakistan including a new National General Election with the one-man-one-vote system, unlike Ayub Khan's Basic democracy. East Pakistan had the majority of the population of 56% as opposed to 44% of West Pakistan. Accordingly, East Pakistan got 169 Seats and West Pakistan got 131 Seats out of total 300 Seats of the National Assembly of Pakistan. The General Election was held in December of 1970 and the Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 167 out of 300 Seats, the absolute majority in the Pakistan National Assembly. But the Pakistani Military Junta ultimately refuse to hand over the State Power of Pakistan to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, rather the Pakistani Military cracked down on the Bengalis and arrested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman..



Bangabandhu declared the Independence of Bangladesh just before his arrest in the early morning of 26 March of 1971. Finally, Bangladesh was liberated and became the independent sovereign nation on its Victory Day of December 16, 1971.



On this Day of his 51st Martyr Anniversary (18 February 1969 to 18 February 2020), we salute to this great patriot human being Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha. He will continue to live in the hearts of the peoples of independent Bangladesh forever and for the years to come.



References:

1. ^ After the partition of India he migrated to the East Bengal.,

2. ^ Jump up to:a b c Murshed, Md Mahbub (2012). "Shamsuzzoha, Shaheed Mohammad". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. 3. Wikipedia.

 




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Posted by: "Dr. M. Mohsin Ali" <drmohsinali@yahoo.com>


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
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[mukto-mona] A Tribute to Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha





A Tribute to Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha

                                 




Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha 

 

 

Writer: Muktijoddha Dr. Mohsin Ali, New York, USA



Introduction:

Today is the 18th February of 2020, the 51st Death (Shaheed) Anniversary of Shaheed Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha, PhD. He was killed on this 18th February in 1969 by the Pakistani Army in the Student demonstration organized in front of Rajshahi University. Dr. Shamsuzzoha was a Reader/Professor of Chemistry and the Proctor of Rajshahi University. He was responsible for maintaining relations with the students. He was born in 1934. He was 35-year-old when he was killed. He left behind his wife Nilufar Zoha and a daughter.



Dr. Shamsuzzoha was the first Shaheed Intellectual and a University Teacher before and during the liberation war of Bangladesh who was killed by the Pakistani military forces on the 18th February of 1969 during the 11-Point Students-Peoples' revolutionary movement organized in East Pakistan against the Pakistani President Ayub Khan's occupation, which ultimately was escalated and became the full-fledged Armed-Liberation War of Bangladesh.



Life of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha:

Dr. Zoha was born in the district of Bankura in West Bengal, India. After the India partition, he migrated to erstwhile East Pakistan in 1950. He passed his matriculation examination in 1948 from Bankura Zilla School and passed Isc (Intermediate of Science) examination in 1950 from Bankura Christian College. He achieved BSc (honours) degree in Chemistry in 1953 and MSc in 1954 from Dhaka University. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha also participated bravely in the Bengali Language Movement during his university life. In 1964, he obtained his PhD degree from Imperial College of London.

At first, Mohammad Shamsuzzoha joined Rajshahi University as a Development Officer in 1961 and on that year he also became a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. He was promoted as Reader of the Chemistry Department. On 1 May 1968, he received the Proctor post of the university. He was the first university teacher who was martyred from 1947 to 1969. The martyr Day, 18 February is observed as the Shahid Zoha Dibos (Martyr Zoha Day) in Bangladesh.



The victory of 11-Point-Movement of 1969 Brought the Victory of Liberation War of 1971 ;



Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha was a martyr during the 11-Points Students'-Mass Movement launched in 1968-69 against the Pakistani dictator President Field Marshal General Ayub Khan. This Mass Movement was started in 1968 in protest of the False Agartala Conspiracy Case lodged for the cessation of East Pakistan by the Pakistani Ruler against the Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates who were arrested and imprisoned in Dhaka Central Jail. The Movement started by the students of all Universities, Colleges and Schools of the then East Pakistan from the end of 1968 against President Ayub Khan which gradually began to get momentum as the common mass movement and the peoples of all walks of life joined the movement. During different stages of the movement, the student leader Shaheed Asadduzzaman was killed by the army on 20 January 1969, and Sergeant Jahurul Haq, an accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case was killed in Dhaka Cantonment on 15 February 1969.



These killings shocked and agitated the Bengalis of East Pakistan who had been occupied, suppressed, ruled, ignored and exploited since 1947 by the Pakistani Rulers who were the West Pakistanis. The peoples of all sectors of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) joined the students and pushed the mass movement to a greater nation-wide protest-movement. In such a backdrop, the students of Rajshahi University started agitation and on 17 February a number of students were injured in police action.



On 18 February of 1969, the thousands of students of Rajshahi University organized a demonstration at the main gate of the University. At the same time the local Civil, Police and Military administrations imposed Section 144 on the Natore-Rajshahi Highway adjacent to Rajshahi University. The agitated students decided to violate Section 144 in the area where army personnel were deployed to shoot at the students. Thousands of students from the Colleges of Rajshahi City, Medical College an Engineers College joined the demonstrations from the other side. The Military and Police charged batons against the students and blasted Gas-Bombs on the students. The Military fired on the air to intimidate the students and tried to disburse the students from the demonstration and asked the students to leave the street and go back to their classes. But the students were determined to continue their demonstration and break Section 144. There were fist-fighting going on between the demonstrating students and the Police.



The Proctor Dr. Shamsuzzoha was informed about the burning situation and he rushed to the spot and tried to get his students back to their classes and dormitories. He talked to the army officers and urged upon them to abstain from firing upon the students. But the army defied his request and started firing upon the demonstrating students. Dr. Zoha was also wounded by a bullet shot. He was taken to the Military carrying truck where the Military charged bayonet on his body multiple times. Although he was carried to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment it was too late. Dr. Shamsuzzoha was breathed his last at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.



Dr. Shamsuzzoha was buried in front of the administrative building of Rajshahi University. A beautiful and colourful Monument was built on his Graveyard in front of the Administrative Building of Rajshahi University to commemorate his ultimate sacrifice. A Student Hall was also built in his name in honour of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha's highest sacrifice for the Nation.

The death of Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha added a new dimension in the anti-Ayub mass movement, as well as the fall of Ayub government was quickened. The whole East Pakistan was burst into the Mass-Movement, even the common people of West Pakistan and the world leaders, peoples and Media demonstrated protests against the killings of Dr. Shamsuzzoha and others in East Pakistan by the Army Ruler General Ayub Khan's killing spree intention. As a result, on the 26th of March of 1969, President Ayub Khan was forced to resign as the President and Ruler of Pakistan and General Yahya Khan took over the power and declared himself as the new President and Marshall Law Administrator of Pakistan. He imposed new Marshall Law in Pakistan and suspended the Constitution. Finally, President Ayub Khan's 11 years of Rule (from 1958 to 1969) was ended on March 26, of 1969.



Immediate after taking over the Power of Pakistan, the new President General Yahya Khan withdrew the false Agartala Conspiracy Case. The Awami League Leader and the Chief Accused of the False Agartala Conspiracy Case Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates were released from Dhaka Central without any conditions. The victorious students and Mass-People organized a public meeting at the Shuhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka for honouring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman where he was awarded the Title "Banbgobandu". Since then Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is known as the "Bangabandhu" in Bangladesh and in the world.



Pakistan's new Military Dictator and Ruler President General Yahya Khan promised to give true democracy in Pakistan including a new National General Election with the one-man-one-vote system, unlike Ayub Khan's Basic democracy. East Pakistan had the majority of the population of 56% as opposed to 44% of West Pakistan. Accordingly, East Pakistan got 169 Seats and West Pakistan got 131 Seats out of total 300 Seats of the National Assembly of Pakistan. The General Election was held in December of 1970 and the Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 167 out of 300 Seats, the absolute majority in the Pakistan National Assembly. But the Pakistani Military Junta ultimately refuse to hand over the State Power of Pakistan to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, rather the Pakistani Military cracked down on the Bengalis and arrested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman..



Bangabandhu declared the Independence of Bangladesh just before his arrest in the early morning of 26 March of 1971. Finally, Bangladesh was liberated and became the independent sovereign nation on its Victory Day of December 16, 1971.



On this Day of his 51st Martyr Anniversary (18 February 1969 to 18 February 2020), we salute to this great patriot human being Shaheed Dr. Shamsuzzoha. He will continue to live in the hearts of the peoples of independent Bangladesh forever and for the years to come.



References:

1. ^ After the partition of India he migrated to the East Bengal.,

2. ^ Jump up to:a b c Murshed, Md Mahbub (2012). "Shamsuzzoha, Shaheed Mohammad". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. 3. Wikipedia.

 




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Posted by: "Dr. M. Mohsin Ali" <drmohsinali@yahoo.com>


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Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

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               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190





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