The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is a world leader. He was in fact the representative of the oppressed, persecuted and freedom-loving people. Bangabandhu said: “The whole world is divided into two camps. One is dominating and the other is subservient. I am in favourof the subservient.
The cardinal virtue of a political leader is to love his people. The formidable foes of the Bangabandhu turned into his friends on coming in touch with this noble virtue. He showed them the path of correction with his compassionate manner. We, the people of Gopalganj, are blessed and proud of the Bangabandhu as this highly giftedgreat leader was born here. I am sharing one of my memorable childhood memories here: —
My ancestral home is at Sultanpur Manikhar village under Kathi union of Gopalganj Sadarupazila. We were living in our village peacefully as an illustrious family. My father was a physician and my paternal uncle was President of Union Board since the British regime. The homesteadsin our village were on high land that looked like to hillock as our village used to be submerged in the rainy season. It was late 1953 or early 1954. Most probably, I was a student of class five. I used to wear half pants then. One day, I was searching for my small ball as it rolled down from my hand.
In the meantime, someone put a soft hand on my shoulder and said, “How are you brother?” When I turned, I saw a tall, slim andstout youth. There was another person with him who asked me: “Is Mr. President home?” We asked them to sit in our drawing room and went inside to call my uncle. I started listening to their conversation. I noticed that the tall, handsome youth was talking to my uncle with a strong voice and in a rational way.
From the day I knew that the person with the sturdy voice is Bangabandhu. He was a great leader and dedicated his life to uphold the rights of the Bengali nation. I became his fan from then on seeing his generosity and rational conversation. I started listening to his speeches and statements to know him better. The former Commerce Minister of Pakistan, Wahiduzzaman, former MPs Fayekuzzaman, Advocate Abdus Salam Khan and other leaders used to visit our home especially before election. But none could better amaze me than Bangabandhu did with his bold voice and spirit of nationalism.
After passing BSC in 1963, I started my career as a teacher. I worked as the Assistant Headmaster cum Science teacher at Kotalipara Union Institutions (Baliabhanga) and Mary Gopinathpur High School for three years. Later, I started working as a Production Chemist at the explosive factory of the Rawalpindi Ordnance Factory. So, I could not do politics in an active way.
I was transferred to Bangladesh Ordnance Factory in 1970. Immediately after my arrival in Bangladesh I came in contact with AKM Mozammel Haque (current Minister for Liberation War Affairs of Bangladesh). I learnt that hewas contesting as a UP Chairman candidate from Awami League in Gazipur Union. It is because of my ideology;I met him and asked all my colleagues to cast their votes for MrMozammel. MrMozammelwon the election with landslide.
Later, the national general election of Pakistan was held.The result was a landslide victory for the Awami League led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But the Pakistani rulers started procrastination in handing over power to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A protest started which turned into the Liberation War due to the brutality and barbarism of Pakistanis. We used to hold meetings and processions in the ordnance factory as part of the liberation movement.
At those meetings our union leaders especially A Salam, Sekandar Ali, Nazrul Islam, A Sattar and others used to give fiery speeches. On the other hand, meetings, protests and processions were going on led by Motaleb of machine tools factory who was later an MP of Sylhet.At that time, the locals of Gazipur came forward to speed up the protest at the ordnance factory and machine tools factory. Ordnance factory was the pioneer of the protest in the area on that time. The ordnance factory staff helped the freedom fighters by supplying arms to them and killed Pakistani soldiers. Machine tools factory workers were in second position in the movement. They were also helping the ordnance factory workers.
Defence Ministry officials and staff were barred from doing politics. Moreover, the staff of the factories were moved here and there as the factories were closed after the Liberation War. So, the credit went to the local people. It may be recalled that as the ordnance factory was closed immediately after the beginning of the Liberation War, I moved to Gopalganj from Gazipur taking the risk of life. Then I joined the Liberation War as a Freedom Fighter.
After the last national election, in 2019, as a proud Freedom Fighter, I went to Ganabhabanto meet and congratulate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with her permission. After meeting the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, I realized that she is a great leader with a very kind heart. Her spontaneous behaviour and sincerity mesmerized me. She was very sincere and generous. It seemed that she knows me since long. But it was my first meeting with her. After talking to her I recalled the memory of my childhood when I met Bangabandhu. It reminds me the voice of Bangabandhu “How are you, brother?” The pleasant memory is unforgettable.
The writer is a valiant Freedom Fighter
The article first appeared in a Bengali newspaper
