First mass armed resistance in Gazipur in 1971

Today a rare letter of the Father of the Nation will be presented before the nation marking the Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilees of Bangladesh independence.The National Committee for Celebration of Golden Jubilee of March 19, the First Armed Resistance Day will be presenting the letter that Bangabandhu wrote hailing the heroic people of the district.

On this day in 1971, the freedom-loving people of Joydebpur in the district first resisted the heinous Pakistani forces under the brave and bold leadership of Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Haque who was the then the Convener of All-party Action Committee, also a BCL member who was involved in the nucleus of Independent Bangla in 1971.

Gazipur residents resisted the Pakistani troops led by Brigadier Jahanzeb Arbab when they came to disarm the Bengali members of the 2nd East Bengal Regiment that was based in Joydebpur Rajbari (Bhawal Raj Palace).

The heroic people wrestled with their lives at the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through his March 7 speech. Three brave people, Hormut, Niamat, and Monu, made their supreme sacrifices.   "Follow the Path of Joydebpur, Liberate Bangladesh" became a common slogan in those fiery days of March 1971.

The English version of Bangabandhu's letter is as follows:

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman    Dhaka, 19 March 1972 March 19 of 1971 is another memorable day in the history of Bangladesh. When on this day Pakistani military went to disarm the jawans of the 2nd East Bengal Regiment, farmers, students, and general people jointly led by Awami League, Chhatra League and Shramik League built up a strong resistance. As a consequence, three valuable lives were lost and lots of people sustained injuries.Just a few days ago on March 7, I made a clarion to people to build a resistance with whatever they possess. The people of Joydebpur have abided by it word by word. I convey my thanks to them.

Any noble act is not possible without sacrifice. Self-sacrifice of Niamat, Monu Khalifa of Joydebpur and that of Hurmat of Chandna intersection did not go in vain. Blood of martyrs never goes in vain. Today, it is because of supreme sacrifice of lakhs of martyrs, an independent and sovereign Bangladesh has been established.The country's freedom struggle has ended. So, come, let us involve in a struggle for building the country by working shoulder-to-shoulder with each other.

Joy Bangla  Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 19/3/7 Apart from March 19 incident, the people of Gazipur showed bravery by taking part in three more bloody incidents at Gazipur and Tongi industrial town on March 5, 15, and 16.

According to a revelation of the Liberation War Affairs Minister, former parliament members late Abdul Hakim Master, late Habibullah and late Ahasnullah Master, Nurul Islam Master Bhawal Rantna, labor leaders like Abdul Mottaleb, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdus Sattar Miah, Nurul Anowar, Shahidullah Bachchu, Dr. Nazim Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Latif Gazi, Abdul Mannan, Sabdar Ali Master, Shahidul Islam Pathan, Haroon-ur-Rashid Bhuiyan, Abul Hossain, Abdur Rahman, Oliullah Pathan, Abdur Rouf Nayan, among others, played a pioneering role in the historic events.

Later, after a nine-month Liberation War, Gazipur was finally liberated from the clutch of Pakistani occupation forces on December 15, 1971.It is now the heartfelt demand of the people of Gazipur for state recognition of March 19 as the First Armed Resistance Day against the occupation army of Pakistan.

The writer is a Senior Reporter at BSS, Chief Coordinator of the National Committee for the celebration of Golden Jubilee of March 19, the First Armed Resistance Day, and President of Gazipur Union of Journalists (GUJ).
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