History of liberation war in Kaliganj in Gazipur Zila

 “Kaliganj Sub-Registry Office is located at the behind of the then largest Mill of the Asia 1 km away from Kaliganj Bazar, south-west to the Kaliganj thana which is south-east to the Gazipur Zilla adjacent to the Narsingdi Zilla border. The Shitalakkhya river flows past the south and south-east area of it(Kaliganj Sub-Registry Office). The Tongi-Kaliganj metalled road is far-extended to the east-west of its northern side. The entire Kaliganj was highly important from the military point of view. A branch of Shatalakkhya divides the whole area into two parts. The name of northern area is Uttar Badati(Uttar Vadarti) and the name of southern area is Dakkhin Badati(Dakkhin Vadarti). The Pak-forces basically took shelter in Uttar Badati and at old sub-registrar’s office situated in this area and their tank was located nearby the bridge on the main road of Cotton Mills. There were some approximate company manpower of Pak-forces in this area. There was a troop tank with them. The freedom fighters were few in number and Ferdous was the company commander. Among many sporadic battles around Kaliganj Thana Headquarter, the Battle of Kaliganj Sub-Registry Office is notable. Pak-forces took position at Arikhola Railway Station to keep the Tongi-Ghorashal rail line enemy free and constructed banker to guard two bridges in east and west. On November 4-5, there was firing with helicopter in the potential freedom fighters’ area nearby Arikhola station. After being failure destroying railway-bridge nearby Arikhola Rail Station, freedom fighters pay their concentration to the Kaliganj Sadar. Pak-forces feel the activities of freedom fighters in Sumbazar area in second week in November. They planed an attack in Dakkhin Badati as a part of rising power on November 20.  First group leading by Mr. Deloar took position towards the course of river, second group leading by Mr. Tamij Uddin and Mr. Ferdous took position in the Sumbazar-bridge area, and third group leading by Mr. Ali Hossen took position in the Boali-bridge.

Pak-forces used tank and did mortar shelling intermittently all the day on November 25. On the other hand, the freedom fighters observed the situation with a great patience. Freedom fighters jumped on Pak-forces applying their full power when it became evening on this day. Realising the bad situation, Pak-forces set fire to sub-registry office and turned back with wounds to the Pubail through Arikhola station closing all their lodgements in Kaliganj thana. They fled away leaving huge weapons and ammunition in the face of drastic attacks of freedom fighters. Freedom fighter Fajlul Haque got martyred in this battle. The casualties of Pak-forces were not identified.”

Muktizuddha Kush (Sixth Part), page- 205, 206.

Reference: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Muktizuddha/3^rd part, Dhaka, 2008.

 

“Yousuf Ali, professor, was a collaborator. After independence, he was given a 4-year rigorous imprisonment for being connected to various crimes in liberation war. A report of Daily Azad (05-01-1973) is quoted here on this matter- ‘Today, professor Yousuf of Kaliganj thana is fined with 8 thousand taka and given a 4-year rigorous imprisonment for participating in the so called by-election of National Counsel in 1971. A special court was established with an assistant session judge. Bringing charge against the accused court says, by such participation he strengthen the hand of occupier to keep the Pakistani ruling in Bangladesh. Court says, it is under The Collaborators Act of Bangladesh. When Finance Minister Tajuddin Ahmed was leading the Provisional Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh from Mujibnagar, then Professor Yousuf Ali participated in the election from his constituency.’ “

Muktizuddha Kush (Fourth Part), page- 101.

Reference: A. S. M Shamsul Arefin, Muktizuddha Ekattar: Dalal Aine Sajaprapta Oporadhi, Dhaka 2008.  

 

“Kaliganj is close by Dhaka. Pak-forces appeared in Kaliganj early in the November. In earlier, ‘Mukti Bahini’ would take position on the basis of information sent by Major Shefali; as a result Pak-forces couldn’t turn up nearby village. Member of ‘Mukti Bahini’ Andru De. Costa, Suneel Ignashias De. Costa, Rabeen Gomej, Rejinald, Afjal, Mamataj Uddin and village folk took position in this day too. There were no heavy arms in their hand. They were about to confront with their light weapons. They retreated for their inability to stand up in the face of ultramodern weapons of trained enemy. Pak-forces set fire to every houses with joy and rage; showed their heroism through destruction. They fired whoever showed before them, killed arbitrarily. Ketu, Pal, Pacha, Roji Costa also appeared before them. They fell down by shot. Pal and Ketu were crookbacked. Villagers saw the dead body of Roji Costa holding a radio. 17 people were shot dead across the village in this day.”

Muktizuddha Kush (Tenth Part), page- 83.                        

Reference: Mithushilak Murmu.

  

“Anil De Costa is a resident of Kaliganj in Dhaka. He worked in the cooking service at freedom fighter camp in Kaliganj at the time of liberation war. The camp of freedom fighters of Daripara, Boali, Chuto Satanipara, Baktarpur and other nearby areas was Rangamatia. Anil didn’t get stopped after cooking only, he would serve food to the freedom fighters with care, would arrange shelter. His overall care was encouraging. He also would draw the graph of independent Bangladesh on a canvas of his mind. As situation got worsen, freedom fighters gave advice to the resident of Kaliganj for leaving the village and to go north. One day Pakistani military force came to Kaliganj abruptly and set fire to the village in this area. Anil went for a dip in a pond beside paddy field with some frightened people for the arrival of raiders. They were not escaped from the eyes of cunning Pakistani military forces. At that time they were ordered to step up but he(Anil) disobey the order of these barbarians directly. He told them with a loud voice that they can do anything they want but he won’t obey their order until death. Instantly bullets of rifle of a fierce raider pierced him. Anil sacrificed his life for the country. He left 19-year-old wife Jesinta and one and half year-old son Shishir.”

Muktizuddha Kush (Ninth part), page- 30, 31.

Reference: Mithushilak Murmu.

  

“A frontal clash between freedom fighters and Pak armies took place before the kaliganj Pubail Rail Station in Gazipur on 14^th December. Md. Rejail Karim, Md. Sirajul Islam, Kaji Shahjahan, Ruhul Amin, Md Akter Hosen and 30 other freedom fighters of Group Commander Nazrul Islam of suicide group, Deloar group, Mama group, Kaliganj group and other small groups decided to attack the Pak forces jointly. Major Rusilvar and Major Roy of ‘Mitro Bahini(Indo-Bangla forces) met with freedom fighters with around 100 soldiers after 12^th December. Freedom fighters of Nazrul Islam detached slipper of rail line of Nagori, Ulukhola, Bandhakhola  and at south of Pubail Rail Station(approximately 1 mile). Being unite(approximately 100 soldiers ) under the leadership of the ‘Mitro Bahini(Indo-Bangla forces) Major Rusilvar, freedom fighters started attacking since morning on 14^th December. ‘Mitro Bahini(Indo-Bangla forces) took position in front of and behind the freedom fighters. 2 hundred Pak armies permanently stayed in the Camp and bunker at Pubail Rail Station. Entering into the bunker of Pakistani army, freedom fighter Tuku pulled an LMG and as a result, his five fingers became blown away. There were firing for the whole day. Kaji Shahjahan got shot in his belly and middle finger of Babul Akter’s hand got blown away by the bullet of enemy. Hundreds of Pak forces got killed. Some escaped. Freedom fighters seized a Pak soldier named Mojafor and consigned him to Captain Hayder. After completing mission, ‘Mitro Bahini(Indo-Bangla forces) started their journey towards Dhaka through Tongi from Kaliganj railway.”

Muktizuddha Kush (Sixth Part), page- 215, 216.

Reference: Rita Voumik, Narayanganje Muktizuddha, Dhaka, 2007.

  

“Naval Siraj sent an intrepid team to the Nagori in Kaliganj with some duties in late July. They were advised to go to Taltia after the accomplishment of duties in Nagori. Naval Siraj were present at Taltia in advance. After returning the team, he blew up successfully a train carrying Pak-army by making an explosion in an electric way on the rail line. It is heard, some Pak-armies, passengers of this train, got injured and 10 died of them.”

Muktizuddha Kush (Seventh Part), page- 80.

Reference: Siraj Uddin Sathi, Muktijuddhe Narsingdhi, kichu sriti, kichu kotha, Narsingdhi, 1992. 

  

“An initiative was taken to continue guerrilla attack all around at a same time. Earlier, the goals and purposes of these guerrilla were as bellow:

* To break down the economy of the oppressive rulers of Pakistan.

* To upset the Pakistani army.

* To cut off the communication system of Pakistani army.

* To create good image of the ability of ‘Mukti Bahini’ to the common people and to gain their trust.

Under this plan, some grenade attacks were carried out in Narshingdhi and industry unit at industrial area of Ghurashal. Alijan Jute Mil of Narshingdhi and Pubali Jute Mil of Ghurashal were set to the fire and hundreds ‘Mon’ of jute were incinerated. Carrying similar attacks in other jute mil, they created fearful atmosphere. The member of Pak-forces and collaborators who established camp in these mils were scared of freedom fighters. In the last week of July, ‘Mukti Bahini’ killed two obsequious collaborators of Pak-forces in Jinardhi and freed the local people from their oppression. Earlier in August, telephone exchange of Ghurashal was blown up and the telephone exchange of Madhobdi was disabled permanently. Almost at the same time, two small bridges were destroyed by explosion on Dhaka-Narshindhi highway in Chanpara and Baghhata. On 4^th August, the team of Araihajar Thana commander Abdus Samad destroyed Panchokopi and Dargao road bridges by explosion near Araihajar Thana. In the same month they occupied all the arms by attacking the Araihajar Thana. Almost at the same time, ‘Mukti Bahini’ of the Rupganj Thana killed the western police who came from Kaliganj and the guards of Pak-forces by attacking their watch boat and let them to be drowned. The attack in Shibpur that happened at the same time has been stated severally. Freedom fighters became the reason of fear for Pakistani by doing such clandestine attack.”

Muktizuddha Kush (Seventh Part), page- 201, 202.

Reference: Siraj Uddin Sathi, Muktijuddhe Narsingdhi, kichu sriti, kichu kotha, Narsingdhi, 1992. 

  

“National Jute Mils is located in Kaliganj Upazila of Gazipur Zila. It is situated on the eastern side of Kaliganj-Kapashia road of Shitalakkha riverbank 8 km away to the north from Upazila Sadar.

In the first week of April, Pakistani army established their camp at National Jute Mils too. Pak-forces took their position in the area adjacent to Railway Bridge over Shitalakkha river. Basically, the main purpose of Pak-forces was to protect the Cumilla-Dhaka rail-line from freedom fighters and to use this as a supply-line. Pak-forces residing in Kaliganj nearby Ghurashal-Kaliganj Bridge and Pak-forces of Jute Mils outraged people in local villages and took news of freedom fighters. When the liberation war escalated into severe condition, they took off their camp from National Jute Mils as a demand of soldier transfer to other sectors. Noted that, the general security officer of the mil was Md. Abbas and Mr Rijvi was the manager. They both were Pakistani. As a result Pak-army were able to establish their military base safely. In the late November, they set up their camp again and started to take information about freedom fighters from the employee of this Mil. Administrative Officer Mr Abu Taleb and Production Officer Mr Ismail of this Mil financially helped the freedom fighters in secrete and aroused freedom fighters of Hindu majority area all around. Then Pakistani soldiers moved towards Kapashia to the north of National Jute mils. After moving forward about 2 km to the north, there occurred a clash between freedom fighters and Pakistani soldiers at Jamalpur market. Under this circumstances, Pakistani soldiers retreated and returned to the National Jute Mils. For the aforementioned incident, an angry gang of about 50-60 Pakistani soldiers killed 142 officer-employee who were made to stand in a row at 5 pm in the evening on 1^st December. It was a tragic scene. Making them standing in a row, National Jute Mils was flooded with blood by shooting like bird hunting. Still eyewitnesses compare this incident with Karbala Maidan with teary eyes. Pak-forces thought it wouldn’t be safe to be stayed there after their outrageous deed.

On the same day i.e 1^st December at night, a team consisted of 70 people leading by freedom fighter Abdul Ajij carried a fierce attack through river and roadway on Pakistani army at National Jute Mils. Some Pak-soldiers got killed in this attack. Some Pak-soldiers ran away to the Kaliganj through river and some ran away to the Pubail over land. On 14^th December in the morning, a clash between freedom fighters and fleeing Pak-soldiers who fled from Palash took place in the field of Isshorpur that is located about 2 km away to the west from National Jute Mils. Abdul Ajij led this attack too and it is where the freedom fighter Mujaffor Hosen got martyred. Muaffor Hosen kept his gun active until death against the enemy despite being getting shot. Pak-forces were forced to give up and to flee. Who did also combat in this war risking their life are Commander Siraj, Md. Najim Uddin Gazi and Mubarak Ali Murol.

5/7 soldiers of Pak-forces got killed and 3 were seized in this clash. The rest of the Pak-soldiers were able to flee towards Dhaka. 76 employees were inhumed in a mass grave beside the Mils and 66 employees were taken aside by their relatives from the 142 death employees of National Jute Mils. The valiant freedom fighter Mojaffor got martyred in a face to face fight against Pakistani army in the field of Isshorpur. By local initiative a monument is made beside the National Jute Mils to commemorate the martyrs.”

Muktizuddha Kush (Part: Seven), page- 252, 253, 254.

Reference: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Muktizuddha/3^rd part, Dhaka, 2008.