Pride Tale of Bangladesh Police Rajarbagh & Mujibnagar
Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram
Travelling 41 years back in the memory lane, I can testify that my team and I contributed to the history of
independence Bangladesh. At that time, I was the sub-divisional police officer of Jhenaidah. My team
consisted of co-policemen, my driver mannan and three bodyguards. These few people went onto
becoming my companion during the liberation war broke off in response to west Pakistani military
Junta’s attempt to rule east Pakistani in spite of Awami League’s unprecedented democratic victory in the
national & provincial elections of 1970. As history has it, East Pakistani fought the 9 month war with
great valor, attained victory and became Independent Bangladesh.
The purpose of this piece is to give my present and future generation a glimpse of the most auspicious
historic occasion, where the Bangladeshi police held the most important role. On the night of march 25 th,
west Pakistani army attacked Rajarbagh police line with tanks and mortars. The East Pakistani (now
Bangladesh) police battled back and stopped the advancing army for some time with their heroic
resistance. In the process many Bangladeshi policemen lost their lives. However, some policemen fled the
battle field upon being overwhelmed by the bloodshed mitted out by the inhumane Pakistan Army.
From March 25 to April 16 Bangladesh battled the Pakistan Army along with the public. We distributed
arms that were in our procession to the people, and trained them to fight. Around april 10, Pakistan made
a three prong attack on our position from pabna, Jessore, Goalanda, forcing me my policemen and other
civilian forces to retreat and cross onto the Indian borders on that night. On the morning of April 17, we
were informed that the installation ceremony of our government in exile was to be held at Boiddanathtola
on that same morning. The reason That spot was picked is because it was an enclave of Bangladesh and
India. Hence, If the Pakistani army entered the Indian airspace, the Indian air force would attack them.
As planned, on the morning 17th April 1971 I extended guard of honor to the newly proclaimed
independent government of Bangladesh along with my policemen and 12 Ansars. till date, this is one of
the most significant events in history of Bangladesh.
I had made several revisits to the spot beginning 17th April 1998. Most important of them was the 2011
trip with the Prime minister SK. Hasina. In 2009, the government had taken up the task of creating a
liberation war memorial in Mujibnagar centering the spot where the guard of honor was bestowed. It
started when the pro-independent Awami League Government was installed in-power on the 29th of
December the same year with a group of 268 elected parliamentary members. The unprecedented victory
in parliamentary election made the significant of Mujibnagar Day very high, as the Prime miinister asked
the state minister in charge of liberation war to finish the glorious and historic building activities at a fast
pace depict the true history of liberation war around the lliberation war memorial at Mojibnagar. The
attempts of the previous governments to falsify the history of our nation’s most glorious moments had to
be obliterated at the same time.
Like many previous years, this year also I was a part of this glorious day of celebrations. With pride I can
say that this year the celebrations had all together a new meaning and dimension. Unlike some of the
previous years, this time the visit was not over shadowed with the backlash of government run by antidemocratic and anti-independent forces.
On Saturday The 17th of April 1971 a formal and official announcement of and independent Bangladesh
was made to the global community. The government was made solemnized and an oath taking ceremony
was organized. On the same day, Boiddanathtola an unknown bordering village called Bhaberpara under
Meherpur district was given the name Mujibnagar. It was announced, by one of the founding fathers and
first ever prime minister of independent state of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmed, MNA. In front of a huge
crowd who gathered there, the world media, and the other members of government in exile headed by its
acting president Syed Nazrul Islam came the utterance from today this place will be named Mujibnagar
and it will be the capital of Independent Bangladesh.
On the 10th of April some of the fighting Muktibahani commanders Maj. Shafiullah, Maj. Zaman, Gen.
Rob and col. (Retd) Osmani, MNA met Mr Tajuddin and his companions at Agartola. This delegation
requested them to give the fighting forces a Government and political umbrella. They advocated for
cornel Osmani to be appointed commander in chief of the forces VIZ army, navy, and air force. This was
imperative to re-organize and fight the armed liberation war on a disciplined, cohesive and united fashion.
Before making this request to the political hierarchy they met on 4th April at Telipara to determine the
future course of action of those who took up arms and rebelled against Pakistani Army.
It was on this 10th of April at Agortola, that some elected represented of Bangladesh’s both assembliesThe National Assembly and provincial Assembly, sat and made the momentous decision to from a
government of independent and sovereign Bangladesh with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the
President & Suprem commander of the arm forces and Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed as the Prime minister. This
was formally aired by a prerecorded message to the world media through a clandestine radio stations at
Shiliguri jungle and a two kilowatts strong Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra at Agortola. Next day on the
11th of April at Agortola Circuit house. Mr. Syed Nazrul Islam had already joined other members of the
Parliament crossing the mymensing border. He presided over a joint meeting of most of the Available
MNA’s and MPA’s. The decision to form government headed by Bangabandhu with Tazuddin as PM
was approved there. A full fledged cabinet of 5 members was formed. This information was again aired
through Akashbani, Calcutta and Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra same day. These were historic initial
overtures by a nascent independent government of Bangladesh in exile to declare formation. However,
this declaration was to be followed by a formal launching of an oath taking ceremony.
The ceremony had to take place openly inside Bangladesh, in its independent territory, to make any sense
to the International community. After all, the government in exile had to prove that it indeed was
independent within its own territory.
After the declaration, the important task to the new cabinet, led by its prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed,
was to find out aa safe venue to install and proclaim the existence of the government. During late march
he passed through Faridpur, Magra, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, and Meherpur axis. Therefore he had the
personal knowledge and belief that this area was still a safe haven. There already a full fledge Muktifouz
command structure had taken root. In the south western part of Bangladesh comprising Jessore, Kustia,
Khulna etc. The military command of maj. (now retd. col.) Abu Osman Choudhury, of 8 wing EPR (now
BGB) Enjoyed the full support of the entire population and its leaders led by Dr. Ashabul HuqMNA of
Chuadanga. Dr. Huq being the chief advisor of south-western command of Muktifouz lent his full support
to the warefforts of Maj. Osman, Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, consulted his cabinet and decided to formally
launch the government in the free soil of chuadanga, and the date was fixed 14th of april. However, by the
evening of the 13th April having been forced to retreat from the advanced at Barobazar stronghold under
Jhenaidah, followed by fall of Jhenaidah and Chuadaqnga, it was found that the place was not tenable to
be held back under the sway of Muktibahani any longer. Already Pakistani air force had started
bombardment and strafing and advanced movement of Pak infantry was underway. A triangular attack
simultaneously from Jessore Cantonment goalanda ghat and Bherama Bridge had been launched by the
Pakistani invaders. In the face of this attack, Muktibahini fighters started retreating towards bordering
areas. therefore the government of Tajuddin Ahmed made a slight change in its schedule for investure
ceremony both in terms of date and location. After some declaration and discussion with the cabinet and
secret overtures with Indian government and its Eastern command at fort William. The government
decided to move the venue from chuadanga to Meherpur, albeit, Boiddanathtola. It was a bordering
vilolage, A Bangladesh enclave, surrounded in 3 side by west Bengal. Selection of The location made it
impossible for the Pakistani air force to resort to air strafing without violating Indian air space and
difficult for the foot soldiers to advance from Jessore cantonment. As this village had contiguity with
Nadia district of west Bengal it could be accessed and entered into from the Indian soil by road. This was,
I must say a very ingenious and intelligent move on the part of the provisional government. It was made
exiting and adventurous, by keeping the time date and places a total secret. This created an atmosphere of
adventure and tension in the mind of all the journalists who were made ready at Calcutta (no kolkatta) to
move towards an unknown destination for an unknown and yet a highly significant occasion.
Having made the arrangements complete, the big party consisting of all the designate members of the
cabinet, many members of the international and local electronic and print media started for the D, hour
and the unknown destination very early in the morning of 17th April, 1971. The cavalcade of cars, mostly
Indian Ambassadors, some vehicles squeeuzed out of Bangladesh by the freedom fighters, with
passengers including most of the Bangladesh’s leading politicians, student and youth leaders, journalists
reached the hitherto unknown village of Boiddanatthtola.
It was about 10:45 hours in the morning of the auspicious day. By the time the caravan had arrived,
Thousand of freedom loving people of independent Bangladesh, had already gathered and the arrival
beckoned the beginning of a new era in our history, heralded by Joy Bangla Joy Bangabandhu in the
threat cracking voice of all those present.
It was a fresh day, a fresh morning, a few days after the Bengali new year. The place was struck by a norwester, popularly known as kalbaishakhi. A cyclonic whirlwind had battered the area the previous night.
It broke down many branches in the mango grove that welcomed the new day. A new beginning. indeed a
very fresh morning. The old dust and scams of the past were washed away by the torrential rain
accompanied by thundered and gusty winds. The sky was ash blue with moving flecks of snow white
clouds. The nationhood and the mango garden, albeit the whole area was washed and hallowed by the
new wind and pure rain water. The leaves of springy mango trees were gleaming with shining rays of the
morning sun, creating a multi-colored rainbow. one could smell the fragrance of wet leaves hanging in the
air. The slow wind was creating murmurs across the tree tops and its umpteen leaves left its mark of
purity and piety in the cool morning breeze. The whole garden was bemused with gaiety, freshness and
jubilation. chirping birds, click clack clacking squirrels, pecking sounds of cuckoos from a distance added
their mirth in the whispering tree tops wheezed by the morning blowing wind. The garden floor was
littered with small mangoes all over the green grass. The mud beneath the carpet of grass was loose and
soft. All told it was a natural set up for a big bang.
And then came the big bang, in the form of announcement of the investiture of the government of
independent Bangladesh. It had all the pomp and gaiety of a new, free nation, enriched with pure people
power, engrave in the stone of time with a huge deposit of blood. Already thousand of women had been
raped and killed by the marauding Pakistani hordes in all the place conceivable. Yet its thirst for blood
was left unquenched to be followed in the coming days by horrendous tales of inhuman atrocity on an
unarmed people. A guard of honor being presented to the newly formed government of independent
Bangladesh at Boiddanathtola, Meherpur Mujibnagar on April 17, 1971. It was led by Mahbub Uddin
Ahmed, the Jhenaidah sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of that time.
By now the word press had informed throw its media many stories of the massacre of a people by an
animalistic Junta, rape of innumerable women and the beginning of the fleeing of uncountable refugees.
Millions more were made homeless in the meantime. The world also, at the same time, felt an aura of
respect for the freedom loving people. The global circle saw a mother who bore her child in her womb for
long 23 years under severe repression, blood and gore. The citizens of Bangladesh fought one of the most
sophisticated and armed to the teeth army without fear of death. The united polity had by this time formed
itself into an army imbued with an indomitable and unfathomable spirit to destroy the enemies at any cost.
This was led by its supreme commander Bangabandhu, whose destiny was embroiled in mystery and
perhaps death, in absentia.
Thus had come the morning of the 17th April in that little known village, without knowing that in a few
moments it was going to be engraved in the history forever as the citadel of new existence.
The swearing in ceremony for the newly announced provisional government and its cabinet was
proclaimed with an unusual gravity and extraordinary joyousness by its great people and soldiers. The
proclamation of independence was read out by Mr. Yousuf Ali, MNA. He also led the swearing in
ceremony of the cabinet. As Bangabandhu was physically absent, the vice-president of the cabinet Syed
Nazrul Islam was sworn as acting president amongst thunderous clapping applause and slogans of Joy
Bangla, And Joy Bangabandhu who was detained by the Pakistani Janta. Although he was away in
Pakistani jail, he was omnipresent. We felt his presence in the air, on the land everywhere. However Syed
Nazrul Islam was to be in-charge along with him other 4 members, viz Tazuddin Ahmed, PM Mr. M
Monsur Ali, Finance minister Mr. AHM Quamruzzaman, Relief minister and Mostaque, Foreign minister
were also administered the oath of office. Then came the moment when the obedience of the entire armed
forces was to the showered on the new government. An Armed guard of honor was to be given to the
acting President as a mark of obedience of the fighting army.
The Guard of honor was destined to be given by a band of ill-clad soldiers of an unknown denomination.
They were under the command of its unassuming captain who belonged neither to the army nor to a
regimental force. He had not been wearing any freshly ironed or pressed uniformed. Neither was it
bejeweled. Some of the men lined for the parade had tops of their cades broken. Everybody’s uniforms
and caps were disheveled and multifarious. Most of the boys had worm clothes that had not been changed
in last 10 days as the were either in battles of on the run since the midnight of 25 march. But what the
police officer along with a few constables and about a dozen of Ansars were seen with, was out the
ordinary. They were holding arms, wearing torn clothes, but most importantly they all had a spirit of
sacrifice, an overwhelming spirit to embrace death and nothing short of death for the motherland. Their
eyes gleaming, face shining endowed in unity of soul in the parade to bestow guard of honor was
reflecting on those present like a ray of light and of hope. This was the reflection of a united force ready
to extend its unconditional support and obedience to the newly formed cabinet, under all circumstances. It
demonstrated the spirit of united Muktibahani fighting in all fronts, all over the country. The slow of
respect and obedience in the face of adversity was total. The spirit in return demanded only one thing,
total freedom of Bangladesh. The unity was manifested in the deafening utterance of Joy Bangla that
morning by everyone present there.
In the flashing lights of the camera, the guard of honor was over in a short while. This was followed by
speeches by PM Tajuddin Ahmed and by acting president Syed Nazrul Islam. The speeches were
delivered with thunderous applause and monumental slogans. In came vow our victory in this war is
certain. We will win today, if not we will win tomorrow. If not, day after tomorrow. The independent
Bangladesh born today can not be erased from the map of the world.
It was on this rostrum, the make-shift dais make by local people out of bamboooo, wooden chowkis,
adored with broken chairs and a detective harmonium borrowed from a local church, Tajuddin made his
historic pronouncement Henceforth Boiddanathtola will be named Mujibnagar after the name of our great
leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the capital of our independent country will be called
Mujibnagar.
During the entire period of the bloody war, the government in exile whether at theater road Calcutta or at
the tip of Dinajpur, used Mujibnagar as the address. It was in this holy soil in a small cottage of our
independent Bangladesh, that the first cabinet had its very first humble meal consisting of chapatti and
lentil soup. At that time, this was the very essence of entertainment. It was here that a few members of the
cabinet experienced the first few moments of rest and respite on the muddy floor of a kutcha hut after a
long and arduous journey from Calcutta to a destination they could call their own.
Infact when Mr. Tajuddin was lying on sheelal pati laid on the floor I entered the border outposts built of
bamboos roofed with C.I sheets, after the guard of honor parade. I had the audacity to lie down beside
him. He for a few moments had put himself in the luxury of a nap, which obviously unwillingly I
disturbed. Instead of being annoyed, he opened his sleepy eyes, smiled and said Mahbub, you are my first
soldier I replied Sir pray that we return home victorious he said of course we will. Then he continued with
his nap.
After a while, I came out and talked to one of the jawans of the Indian army. There wrere many of them
all around waiting in guard clocked in civilian outfit. I asked him why are you here? He replied We are
here to protect your leaders from any attack of the pak army. I was surprised that our government had
already struck deal with the Indian government in military matters. This knowledge put our mental
strength and spirit on a high gear. Then bumped into a journalist. He was a foreigner and was counting
steps from the border towards the dais. I asked him what he was doing. He sayed I just walked from the
border line to the dias, it is only 300 yards.
It was these journalists, who had braved all the way from Calcutta with the caravan, and at the end of the
ceremony, reported all over the world, about the momentous bloody yet brave birth of a new nation. Their
press release by various means, such as telephone and telex had made an impact, unparalleled and equaled
in the annals of human history. those were not yet the days of the internet, not even fax machines, and
overseas telephone lines were almost impossible to get connected in short efforts. Yet the whole world
came to know that Bangladesh was born after 23 years of human hardship (being under west Pakistan
rule), total torture of race and bloody annihilation of millions by a heartless and brutal Pakistani military.
The essence of this day lay in the fact that Mrs. Gandhi, on the 31st of march made a clarion call in the
Indian Parliament and informed the house that a reign of terror was let loose on unarmed civilians in the
form of a massive attack by armed forces dispatched from West Pakistan (resolution of the Indian
Parliament 31st March 1971 moved by Mrs. Indra Gandhi). The resolution in no uncertain terms records
its profound conviction that the historic upsurge of the 75 million people of East Bengal will triumph
Mrs. Gandhi took her support a step further when she declared on the 4th of April in Delhi in the
conference of the all India Congress committee that it is no possible nor desirable that India remains a
silent spectator on the face of the happenings in east Bengal. In fact by this she had already recognized the
fighting population of Bangladesh, De-facto. By allowing the government to function from its soil she
made it immensely clear that she meant what she said in the parliament. Her government extended all
their support on humanitarian grounds, but many other forms of assistance had to be tackled in a
clandestine manner. With the open declaration of formation of the government of Bangladesh in exile, it
became possible for her to help Bangladesh organize its fighting force with arms, ammunitions, training
and subsistence openly. Besides for the millions of refugees flowing by the day into the Indian border
areas, Indian could seek international help. The Indian people started coming out with extended arms to
help the fighting Bengalis in large number almost from the down of 26th March. Various voluntary
organizations in India made it their duty to forge all kinds of assistance for the fighting force as well as
the refuges who were pouring in. The coming into being the government made the Indian people
confident, especially those who had come out to assist the war efforts and help the refugees. Formation
and proclamation of government enabled many International luminaries like Edward Kennedy, (U.S.
Senoto), Donald Chesworth, (war on want), Professor Ambassador Galwava of USA and so on to visit the
war ravaged areas along the borders of Indo-Bangladesh. They witness the teeming millions who were
thrust into extreme hardship, misery, dieses and death by the unprecedented inhuman torture and
attempted annihilation of the Bengali race. Many bodies were formed in their agony to halt this
treacherous pursuit. Many private organizations were created in India instantaneously within a very short
period.
This enabled and encourage the then Pakistani Deputy high Commissioner in Calcutta Mr. Hossain Ali, a
Bengali to show his allegiance to new Independent government of Bangladesh with his entire staff. He
announced the formation of Bangladesh mission in Calcutta of the 18th of April. This office become the
focus of all diplomatic and other coordination activities during the entire 9 month of liberation war. This
was the first diplomatic mission of Bangladesh in a foreign land.
This also paved the way for various governments in the world such as the UK, Austrslia, Russia, and even
USA to measure the real degree of inhuman torture meted out by the Pakistani beasts and thus take
resolutions of condemnation against Pakistanis. They also, on the same vane extended support for the
Bengali fighters. Even united nations showed some overture to stop the genocidal activities of the
Pakistani Junta. On the assumptions of governance, the command structure of Muktibahani and the
fighting troops was possible to be reorganized into a cohesive force capable of effective fight and
destruction of the enemy. As a matter of fact, on the very day of government was unheard in, col. Osmany
MNA was introduced as the commander in chief and Mr. Nurul Kader khan was introduced as the
establishment sectary by the PM himself from the same dias where the oath taking ceremony took place a
few moments back. This sowed the seed of a real government with military might. The entire
governmental effort to organize the army saw the coming into being of 11 sectors, sub-sectors, creation of
several forces such as S-force, K-force and Z-force, all in its bid to bring the entire fighting force under
the single command of the government. At the same time, the political leadership, lasing with Indian
Army under its Eastern command at fort William, Calcutta, had now the structure to set up coordination
at all levels between Bangladesh and Indian commands. Thus it was possible to lay the foundation of a
Mitrabahani (allied force) with Bangladesh Army and Indian Army fighting side by side to quell the
bloody thirst of Pakistani blood suckers.
By virtue of this installation and oath taking openly, the govt. in exile got itself rooted on a firm solid
foundation, a fighting arm and all other implications entailed in a legimate administration of a new
independent state.
By this single act we, the fighting forces, so far without any citizenship and, passports floating as nonentities virtually rudderless and disorganized, got a legitimate umbrella of protection and future dead of
alive.
Last but not the least, government of India under the leadership of Mrs. Gandhi, realized that the
provisional government in exile was a democratic government, political, and had full sway over its
territory as well as its fighting forces. They could be relied upon as a state. This was very important
development for Mrs. Gandhi and the government of India because so far all that de-facto support given
did not have any legal authority. But now Indai was ready and capable of extending all out support to a
fighting government fully backed by its people. Hitherto secret and demi official activities could now
become official for the benefit of world community.
A a personal level I was delighted beyond all proportions when I saw a full cover page profile of myself
printed in the Indian illustrated weekly on the 18th of April issue. The caption said A youthful soldier
giving guard of honor to the government of Bangladesh in exile. It was the picture of the guard of honor
taken on the 17th of April at Boiddanathtola, Albeit, Mujibnagar. The picture contained the heads of at
least 7 members on the front line including the policemen in helmet. Similar pictures and stories were
printed broadcast by print and electronic media all over the world. And thus unwittingly I became a part
of history not to be erased as long as Bangladesh exists. This remains an act of great of its illustrious
members including myself became a part of un-erasable history of our freedom struggle, Boiddanathtola,
albeit Mujibnagar, is the epitome of Bengali policemen continuity of sacrifices in the face of extreme
uncertainty.
The liberation war memorial at Mujibnagar has tribute the first guard of honor in Bangladesh in various
modes. The most significant of which is the life size sculptural replica of the salutation picture. The main
museum hall there also has a wall size version of the same picture. It was published in many
newspapers/periodicals in India and around the world following April 17. With this event I became a part
of our most glorious history. At that young age I hardly realize the gravity, risk of history associated with
it before I conclude I like to draw a parallel between Rajarbagh of 25th night and Mujibnagar of 17th April.
On 25th night Rajarbagh sparked off the war of resistance, the first part of liberation and the radio
message sent through its base station spread the armed resistance to the nook and corner of Bangladesh.
Civilians of all ranks and file joined the armed resistance spontaneously and it spread like wild fire and
engulfed the whole Pakistan army into veritable flame and death.
Government in exile grave the much coveted government to a statless people and grave the nascent
independent government the ability to recognize a disorganized Bangladesh Muktibahani into a United
cohesive force to destroy the Pakistani military might. In both the events police as a force played a very
important role and imprinted themselves into history not to be erased from the face of the earth.
Writer
Famous Freedom Fighter,
Organizer of Liberation war & Columnist