Rangpur: Deep tributes were paid today to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives while encircling the Rangpur Cantonment in an attempt to capture it from Pakistani occupation forces on March 28, 1971. Just three days after the start of the great Liberation War, on this day in 1971, fearless brave people surrounded the Cantonment with indigenous weapons like bamboo sticks, bows and arrows, axes, and spears, creating a unique history.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, while participating in this uneven battle, at least 500 to 600 independence-seeker Bengali Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, Oraon, Santal and other ethnic communities laid down their lives setting up a unique example of national unity, heroism, and bravery. Today, high officials of the administrations and freedom fighters placed wreaths at “Rakta Gaurab” memorial at Nishbetganj in the morning, paying rich tribute to the heroic Bengalis who embraced martyrdom on that day. Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Abdul Motaleb Sarkar with high-ranking officials of the divisional administration first placed wreaths there.
Later, Rangpur Range DIG Aminul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Majid Ali, Deputy Commissioner Md Enamul Ahsan, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Joynal Abedin, Rangpur Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Md Saiful Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Muktijoddha Sangsad Command Unit Convener Bir Muktijoddha Nur Mohammad Mia and Member-Secretary Bir Muktijoddha Mohammad Abdus Sattar, along with representatives of various government departments, educational institutions and social organisations, placed wreaths.
Afterward, teachers and students of ‘Bir Muktijoddha Tayebur Rahman High School’, Jamison Nesa High School, Nisbetganj Government Primary School, and other institutions placed wreaths at the “Rakta Gaurab” memorial. After placing wreaths, they offered special munajats seeking divine forgiveness for the souls of the martyrs who laid down their lives there on March 28, 1971.
Talking to BSS today, former Rangpur District Commander of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad and heroic freedom fighter Md Manjurul Islam described the Cantonment encirclement as an infinite heroic story of bravery of Rangpur people. From that morning, thousands of students, farmers, daily wage workers, and people of all professions, regardless of religion or caste, from different areas including Rangpur Sadar, Gangachara, Badarganj, and Mithapukur upazila areas, gathered in the Nisbetganj area with indigenous weapons.
“Especially the brave indigenous Santal and Oraon community people came to surround the cantonment with bows and arrows,” said Manjurul Islam. In the afternoon, thousands of people started moving towards the cantonment from the Nishbetganj area on the Ghagot river bank when the Pakistani army opened fire with machine guns in the afternoon.
“In just 5 minutes, the area was paralyzed. Hundreds of bodies were lying on the banks of the Ghagot River there. Those who were still alive were stabbed to death with bayonets,” he said. Major Nasir Uddin of the 29th Cavalry Regiment, who was an eyewitness to the incident and was working in Rangpur Cantonment at that time, has narrated these facts in his historic book ‘Juddhe Juddhe Swadhinota’ (Freedom in War).
He describes, “The sky and air of the entire area became heavy with the cries of the wounded. Before evening that day, as ordered, hundreds of bodies were doused with petrol and set on fire.” The fire burned brightly. This fire was much redder than any other fire. This flame burned much more intensely.
“I saw that fire from very close quarters. I saw how helpless freedom-loving human beings were burning,” he wrote. “The independence-seeker Bengali Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, Oraon, Santal and other ethnic communities equipped with sharp weapons, spears, arrows and bows attempted to capture the Cantonment,” the book wrote.
“It was about 4 to 5 pm when thousands of independence-seeker Bangalees had been assembling from the south and southwestern areas to capture the cantonment at any cost,” the book says. “The 23rd Brigade Headquarters of the Pakistani Army was then stationed at Rangpur cantonment and the 3rd Bengal, 26th Regiment at Saidpur, 23rd Cavalry Regiment and its associate forces and 29th Tank Bahini were under its command,” the book wrote.
Brigadier General Abdullah Malik was the then Brigade Commander and the cantonment was equipped with modern automatic heavy arms, artillery, tanks and ammunition with huge Pakistani forces and non-Bengali Beharis. The Pakistani forces and the Beharis soon showered automatic gunfire towards the independence-seeker Bangalees, killing over 600 of them in the most heinous genocide there and injuring hundreds more.
“The vast green grass fields on the Ghagot river bank turned into a blood-sea. The war criminals Brigadier General Malik, Colonel Sagir and non-Bengali Bihari soldiers and officers committed the fearful genocide,” the book mentioned.