By Engr Mamun Islam
RANGPUR, March 1, 2021 (BSS) – The heroic Rangpur people started showing stiff resistance against the Pakistani regime with unprecedented bravery since the beginning of volatile March in 1971 with a decisive struggle for independence.
Local freedom fighters and elderly citizens said Rangpur city turned volatile since March 1 when hatred Pakistani President Yahiya Khan cancelled the scheduled parliament session on March 3 in 1971 and declared curfew on the day.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with huge hatred vehemently rejected cancellation of the scheduled parliament session from March 3, called strike on March 2 in Dhaka and on March 3 throughout the country.
Postponement of the scheduled parliament session by the Pakistani junta, as a part of heinous conspiracy, instantly turned the Rangpur people revolutionary igniting the latent heroism in everyone.
“A meeting of student leaders was held at ‘Panga House’ in the city on March 2 to chalk out next strategies with Chhatra League leader Rafikul Islam Golap in the chair,” General Secretary of district Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee Mosaddek Hossain Lablu said.
At late night on March 2, student leader Abdur Rouf came to Rangpur Press Club from the meeting and informed local journalists that there was no alternative to launch a decisive movement at the call of Bangabandhu.
Former district Muktijoddha Commander Mosaddek Hossain Bablu said Awami League (AL) leaders Siddik Hossain, Advocate Abdul Gani, Shah Abdur Razzaque, Gazi Rahman and others went to different areas for further strengthening the movement.
“Accordingly, thousands of people brought out protest processions breaking curfew on March 3 on the city streets when the Bangalee nation was in unprecedented non- cooperation movements against the Pakistani regime,” Bablu said.
Originating from Kachari Bazaar, student leaders from different areas organised the curfew-breaking spontaneous rallies also participated by hundreds of leaders and workers of AL and other political parties and common people.
The Independence-seeker Bangalees paraded the city streets chanting slogans ‘Tomar Amar Thikana- Padma Meghna Jamuna’, ‘Tomar Neta, Amar Neta- Sheikh Mujib, Sheikh Mujib’, ‘Yahiyar Mukhe Lathi Maro- Bangladesh Swadhin Karo’ —.
At one stage, non-Bengali Behari Sarforaz Khan opened gunfire from his house on the procession at Alamnagar area at 9 am when school student Sangku Samajhder, 12, was critically injured.
“Sangku succumbed at 9:30 am to become the country’s first martyr though many other heroic sons of the soil embraced martyrdoms across the country after 9:30 am on March 3 in 1971,” said Bablu.
Following the news of Sangku’s martyrdom, the city of Rangpur turned extremely volatile as thousands of the Bangalees started participating in dozens of more processions brought out from different areas breaking the curfew on March 3, 1971.
By this time, the non-Bengali Beharis shot college student Abul Kalam Azad to death at Batar Goli Mour and stabbed government employee Omar Ali to death on Dewanbari road by noon on March 3 further triggering anger among people.
“The people of Rangpur sacrificed three brave sons during the non-cooperation movements at the call of Bangabandhu along with many other heroic sons across the country on March 3 in 1971,” said freedom fighter Matiar Rahman of Rangpur city.
In this way, the Rangpur people started showing stiff resistance with unconquerable bravery against the Pakistani regime since the beginning of March through sacrificing lives till achieving the ultimate independence on December 16 in 1971.
“Bangabandhu in his historic March 7 speech mentioned the deaths of the heroic sons who made Rangpur prideful forever by laying down their lives to further ignite the War of Liberation,” Rahman said.