By Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Mar 3, 2022 (BSS) – Rangpur people sacrificed three heroic sons while taking part in curfew-breaking protest processions during the non-cooperation movement against the Pakistanis regime on March 3, 1971 in the city.
 
The three martyred sons of Rangpur were Sangku Samajhder, 12, a student of class six, college student Abul Kalam Azad, 22, and government employee Omar Ali, 45.
 
Talking to the national news agency, heroic freedom fighters, senior citizens and academics said supreme sacrifice of the three brave sons instantly ignited anger among Rangpur people uniting them to snatch away independence at any costs.
 
“The city turned volatile since March 1 when hatred Pakistani junta Yahiya Khan cancelled the scheduled parliament session on March 3, 1971 declaring a curfew on the day,” said former Treasurer of Begum Rokeya University Professor Mozammel Haque.
 
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with huge hatred vehemently rejected cancellation of the scheduled parliament session and called strike on March 2 in Dhaka and March 3 throughout the country.
 
“A meeting of student leaders was held at ‘Panga House’ in the city on March 2 chalked out next strategies with Chhatra League leader Rafikul Islam Golap in the chair,” General Secretary of district Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee Moazzem Hossain Lablu said.
 
Consequently, tens of thousands of people brought out massive protest processions breaking curfew on March 3 in the city when the whole Bangalee nation was in unprecedented non- cooperation movements against the Pakistani regime.
 
“At about 9 am, Sangku of Guptapara area, came out without taking breakfast along with his elder brother Kumaresh Samajhder Babu, a student of class eight, and participated in the curfew-breaking processions,” Lablu said.
 
Heroic freedom fighter Akbor Hossain said the brave Bangalees paraded streets chanting slogans 'Tomar Amar Thikana- Padma Meghna Jamuna', 'Tomar Neta, Amar Neta- Sheikh Mujib, Sheikh Mujib', 'Yahiyar Mukhe lathi Maro- Bangladesh Swadhin Karo'---.
 
Originating from Kachari Bazar, student leaders from different areas organized the curfew-breaking spontaneous rally that was also attended by the then Awami League leader Siddique Hossain with hundreds of leaders and workers.   
 
“At one stage, Behari Sarforaz Khan opened gunfire from his house in Alamnagar area at the protest processions critically injuring Sangku,” said former district unit Commander of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad heroic freedom fighter Mosaddek Hossain Bablu.   
 
Later, Sangku succumbed on the way to hospital at 9:30 am.
 
“Sangku was the country's first martyr who was killed at around 9:30 am by non-Bengali Beharis though many other heroic sons embraced martyrdom on the same day across the country on March 3, 1971 after 9:30 am,” he said.   
 
The news of martyrdom of Sangku instantaneously ignited sleeping bravery in every Bangalee when thousands of them came out to participate in the massive processions and started storming business centres and shops of the non-Bengali Beharis in the city.
 
By this time, the non-Bengali Beharis shot student of Rangpur College Abul Kalam Azad to death at Batar Goli Mour and stabbed government employee Omar Ali on Dewanbari road in the city by noon further triggering anger among the people.
 
“Martyrdom of the three brave sons of Rangpur on March 3 factually ignited heart of every Bangalee and united them to take part in the ultimate struggle for independence as per the call of Bangabandhu,” Bablu added.
 
Noted cultural personality Dr. Mofizul Islam Maantu said the grateful Bengali nation shall remember supreme sacrifice of Sangku who embraced martyrdom on March 3, 1971 while taking part in a massive curfew defying protest procession.
 
Former Head of the Department of Bengali of Rangpur Begum Rokeya Government College Professor Mohammad Shah Alam stressed on informing young generations about the supreme sacrifice of Sangku who has glorified Rangpur people in 1971.
 
“Bangabandhu in his historic speech of Independence on March 7, 1971 at the then Race Course Maidan mentioned the deaths of three heroic sons, including Sangku, who made Rangpur prideful for ever by giving life on March 3, 1971,” Alam said.
 
Different organisations, including ‘Shaheed Sangku Samajhder Bidyaniketon’ are observing the martyrdom anniversary of Sangku with various programs, including discussions’ at different venue sin the city today.