Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech inspired me to join Liberation War: Shawkat

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By Engr Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, March 6, 2021 (BSS) – The historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu
instantly encouraged me to take part in the War of Liberation in 1971,
recalled Shawkat Ali Sarker, a gallantry award winning freedom fighter, while
reminiscing the war memories.

“The historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu immediately united the
Bangalees irrespective of caste, creed and religion to prepare for the
ultimate War for Independence,” Shawkat, Bir Bikram, told BSS.

The valiant freedom fighter is currently President of Chilmari upazila
Awami League and Chairman of Chilmari upazila parishad in Kurigram district.

He said the Bangalee nation under the leadership of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was forging the decisive rock-solid unity
for the independence to get rid of injustice, deprivation, exploitation and
torture in 1971.

The then young man Shawkat passed B. Com. examinations in 1969 when the
Bangalees were in the unprecedented noncooperation movement against the
Pakistani regime.

Shawkat, second among nine kids of late Ezab Uddin Sarker and late Shoritan
Nesa, of village Dakshin Wari (Haservita) in Chilmari upazila in Kurigram,
then was finding a job.

Shawkat, now 73, said the Pakistani army cracked down on innocent people at
night on March 25 in 1971 to eliminate Bangalees through genocide, arson,
rape, torture and abuse as per their heinous plans.

“Being inspired by the directions for the War of Independence given by
Bangabandhu in his March 7 speech, I left home to protect the honour of our
motherland in the beginning of the War of Liberation,” he said.

He joined the War of Liberation in Roumari area separated by the river
Brahmaputra from mainland.

Shawkat said, “One platoon Bangalee soldiers of the 3rd Bengal Regiment in
Saidpur cantonment, with heavy rocket launchers and light machine guns came
to Roumari by river route via Palashbari of Gaibandha.”

Freedom fighters Sadakat Hossain Chhakku Mian and Nurul Islam Pappu started
conducting training of youths at occupation-free Roumari under leadership of
Subedar Altaf Hossain. After completing training at Roumari, youths from
Gaibandha, Tangail and Sirajganj started participating in various operations
as heroic freedom fighters across the country.

Roumari remained under Sector No. 6 during the War of Liberation as a
stronghold for training of freedom fighters.

Knowing about Roumari safe zone for freedom fighters, the Pakistan army
came to Chilmari by train on the other side of the Brahmaputra and built a
strong base there.

Shawkat participated in dozens of warfare, including the Kodalkati,
Chilmari, Kamarjani, Tarabar Ghat and Hatia frontal battles and many
guerrilla operations in 1971.

“We planned to attack the Pakistani army base at Chilmari on August 1 and
put stiff resistance to break up their strong base. But, we had to retreat to
Telipara Char,” he said.

“Later, Pakistani army started coming by gunboats to Telipara Char from
Bahadurabad Ghat, trying to surround us from two sides. But, they could not
survive to our strength,” Shawkat said.

Two days later, Pakistani army crossed the Brahmaputra with the help of
their collaborators at Mohanganj and stayed at Bhelabari School camp in
Kodalkati area of Rajibpur Thana.

“We took position in a drain next to the Pakistani army camp under the
leadership of Subedar Altaf when firing started between the two sides at
night and continued for a week,” Shawkat remembered.

It was widely known as the ‘Kodalkati Battle’ when the Pakistani army was
forced to retreat after intense firing from freedom fighters and suffering
heavy casualties.

“Later, one beggar told us that the Pakistani army carried 200 to 250
bodies during the week-long battle,” he said, adding that 21 freedom fighters
were martyred in the war.

After the successful guerrilla operation, we attacked Sundarganj Thana in
Gaibandha and captured huge weapons.

Shawkat said the ‘Hatia Battle’ was a very significant warfare during the
War of Liberation.

“The battle began at dawn on November 13 in 1971. I led the attacks on
Pakistani army with a 25-member group of freedom fighters. The occupation
forces launched counter-attacks,” he said.

A number of freedom fighters were martyred in that battle where Shawkat was
shot at his leg when the Pakistani army with local collaborators killed 697
innocent Bangalees at Hatia union of nearby Ulipur Thana.

“After getting initial treatments at Roumari, I went to Teldhala Medical
Centre in India for advanced treatment and returned just before the country
became independent,” Shawkat said.