Chittagong, Jun 02, 2023, Pradip Kumar Dutta
Writer
This is the day (2nd June), that I became orphan in 1971- my father Hironya Kumar Dutta- was tortured and killed by Pakistanis in Chittagong. Another innocent and sacred life was sacrificed at the altar of our much sought freedom from the injustice and tyranny of Pakistani hyenas that were let loose on us.
A BRIEF BACKGROUND
Yahiya/Bhutto axis were never inclined to hand over power to the majority of the elected representatives of their country, which was till then our country too. They knew,if Awami League would have come to power, the apartheid and neocolonialism which were under the cuffs/sleeves of West Pakistani ruling class would be exposed and rule of so called elite minority over majority of Pakistan's population will come to an end.
They understood furthermore that from then on, in future too, if democratic Governments could continue to remain in power, the Punjabi dominated ruling class of Pakistan and Pak military would never again dictate the fate of the country. That did not suit them. So called aristocrats of Pakistan led mostly by Punjabis took it as their birthright that Pakistan's future will be shaped by their wish and may be whims.
Until the end of February,1971 all Bangalees hoped that at long last, after 24 years of discrimination, Pakistan will see the light of democracy and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by then already Banganandhu, will become the legitimate Prime Minister of Pakistan and we will get our proper share in all spheres of life. Though we Bangalees constituted about 55% of Pakistan's population, our share in Government jobs including in the military was way below 25%, in some of the sectors even close to 10. With some reservations, we were hoping for the best and a festive mood was prevailing all around.
The much awaited National Assembly session was scheduled for 3rd March. Everyone in Pakistan was waiting with anticipation. On 1st March came a bolt from the blue. The assembly session was postponed by Yahya at the insistence of Bhutto. The volcano erupted. In East Pakistan,everyone came out on the road to protest. Militant protestors, mostly students, youth and Awami League activists started to appear on the roads to stage demonstrations against Yahya and his military junta. Every day we were getting information of police and military firings on angry mobs at different places of East Pakistan.
Banganandhu warned the authorities to refrain from resorting to arms and instructed his followers to stay calm, united and follow his instructions. He declared that on 7March1971 he will address his people to declare further course of action.
Come 7 March, an epic of an address was delivered by the poet of politics. That speech has been declared as one of the greatest political speeches in the history of the World by UNESCO.
Hundreds of thousands of Bangalees gathered at Suhrawardy Uddyan (the then Race Course) to listen to their leader declare total non cooperation with Pak regime. He stopped little short of declaring total independence, making Yahya unable to declare him secessionist.
He demanded peaceful transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people and instructed people to none cooperate with the Pak authorities. He instructed his people to prepare for emancipation of their rightful demand of power and to fight for Independence, if their demand was not met.
He requested the Pakistani armed personnel not to come out of the barracks to confront public. He assured that nobody would harm them if they complied with his request.
Banganandhu also categorically mentioned that every one living in the geographical boundaries of East Pakistan will be treated equally without any discrimination.
I was a student of BUET (the then EPUET) and was present in the Race Course to listen to this extempore Epic first hand. Some of our friends were a little disappointed that the Leader did not declare outright Independence. But mind you, he was by then a matured politician and we were only chivalrous youth.
The Pakistani leadership understood that their time was up. By sweet words like, brotherhood, Islamic fraternity, gradual development to prosperity, etc. the Bangalees could no longer be subjugated. So, they decided to intimidate their weaker subjects (Pak rulers always thought their military to be one of the best in the world and the Bangalees to be a weak non martial nation) with arms and bullets.
On one hand they kept an eye-wash type reconciliation meeting with Banganandhu and Awami League ongoing. On the other hand they started to prepare for a planned Genocide on the Bangalees. It goes without mention that their targets were Bengalis as a national group and Hindus as a religious group. From amongst Bengalis they choose Awami League supporters in particular.
The preparation included transfer of as many armed personnel from Wet to East Pakistan as possible and also arms and ammunitions transfer in the same direction. It also included mobilisation of Biharis (non Bengali refugees from mostly Bihar and UP) which included other commonly Urdu or non Bangla speaking Pakistanis who lived in East Pakistan but with a strong allegiance to Pakistan.
There were some families who stayed away from politics and concentrated in their business only. But there is no denying the fact that most of them willingly identified themselves with Pakistani authorities, were frontline fighters for Pakisanis as their cronies like Rajakars and opting for Pakistan when they were given a choice.
Pakistan, as you would expect and as we know,later abandoned and failed them. Only a handful were taken as a game tactics and after a certain time they were flatly refused.
The point I tried to make is, this group of Pakistani citizens, settled in the then East Pakistan were being organized to face the ensuing fight with the Bangalees in which they willingly participated from their stronghold areas. As I have mentioned earlier there were peace loving neutral people amongst them as well but not many.
The month of March was very tense. Every day we were having reports of police, army and Behari firings on demonstrating Bangalees. There were reports of Bangalee retaliations as well. There were casualties on both sides.
After the 7thMarch speech of Banganandhu all institutions were closed. Only those Government offices that provided essential services were open. Pak power was confined to cantonments, police and other authorities' premises which were dominated by West Pakistanis, areas of residence of Biharis and other non Bangalees.
On 8th March I left Dhaka and could reach Chattogram on 9th early hours changing and using different modes of transportation.
I found in Chittagong that everyone was getting prepared in his own way. On the night of 25 March Pakistan unleashed their full might on unarmed civilians to win perhaps the first war in their history with their so called best army of the world. It was Operation Searchlight. The Genocide began.
Banganandhu was arrested and soon transferred to West Pakistan but not before he could smuggle out his proclamation of Independence of Bangladesh which was transmitted to different parts of the country.On 26th March it was broadcasted on Air from Chattogram Radio by Awami League leader Abdul Hannan and later by few others and finally on 27th March by Major Ziaur Rahman. This broadcast assured Bengali nation that even Bangalee Armed Forces are on our side. War of Independence started.
We have the dates like, 04th April (Teliapara, Muktibahini formation),10th April (proclamation of provisional Government),17th April (Mujibnagar Day),21st November(Formation of Bangladesh Armed Forces from Muktibahini), 6th December(Recognition of Bangladesh Government by Bhutan and India),14th December (Shaheed Intellectual Day),16th December(Victory Day)each to tell its history and show its glory.
We found reasons to grief and rejoice.
THE FATEFUL DAY
Coming back to my family story of grief, let me introduce ourselves. My father Hironya Kumar Dutta hailed from Nalchhiti of greater Barisal but since our childhood was settled in Chattogram as the Manager of M/S Mirza Aboo Company. In those days it was perhaps the second most important and strong industrial and business house of Bengali origin after A. K. Khan conglomerate. My Dad was the virtual CEO of the company looking after all aspects of their business and was well known in Chattogram business circle especially in steel and hardware sector as Dutta Babu.
He never wore anything except dhoti and shirt, was never associated with any politics but was active in social activities. I being the eldest of 6 siblings had five younger sisters. With my academic background of SSC/HSC I could get entry into any institution of higher learning in Pakistan (in fact I was offered an inter wing scholarship to study Engineering in Lahore) or may be even abroad. My Mom was not much interested and I stayed back and started studying in BUET (then EPUET).
After 27th March it was evident that Pak army will conquer its own country and Bangalees would be subjected to untold torture and sufferings. Our family left the city to a village named Dhalghat near Patiya to take shelter in a family friend's home.It was not easy. Mind you, we were not locals, a couple having a son barely18/19 and 5 daughters coming of age. But luckily Dad had few proven friends in that area and we spent days in agony with their families. Some youth were departing for joining the freedom struggle. News of atrocities of Pak army and their cronies started to come.
Also some info of Mukhti Bahini being formed and inflicting damage on the Pakistanis also trickled in, ushering in hope of ultimate success. The enemy started gaining grounds and supported by Rajakars (comprising of Biharis and pro Pakistan Bangalees) started attacking villages after villages to show their might, to scare people off, to torture people and rape women, to loot and to resort to arson. In short, they wanted to teach Bangalees a lesson by carrying out a Genocide.
Somehow Mr. Mirza Aboo Ahmed,the owner of my father's organisation came to know about his favorite Dutta Babu's plight and sent two of his confidantes to smuggle us to Nanupur in Fatickchhari,his village home. We had to cross Chattogram city infested with army and cross several check posts enroute. Still the delegation sent was successful and we found good shelter and good food after 2 months.
Little did we know that our happiness will be so short-lived. Nanupur was a transit point of Bangalee refugees, who could no longer stay in their homes and had to flee to India. Most of them were obviously Hindus, being the prime target of the Pak stormtroopers apart from Awami League activists. In their eyes being a Hindu was enough reason for being their enemy and terminated.
Mr. M Aboo Ahmed's son Mansur Bhai was then a MPA from Awami League. He along with two of his brothers, were already in the leadership of Mukhti Bahini somewhere in the borders of Indian Tripura and Chittagong Hill Tracts. This infuriated the Pak authrities. Just two days after we reached Nanupur, a contingent of Pak army assisted by Rajakars and some local associates attacked the area early in the morning. I was rounded up along with Dad and my uncle.My Mom was staying with the ladies of Mirza family with my sisters in the andermahal (inner chambers of the house) and thank God could escape.
They assembled a few hundred of male Bangalees whom they could get in a nearby field and was looking for the MPA and his Dad and siblings. Finally they could get only Akbar, the youngest of the brothers and promptly sent him to Chattogram to higher authorities. Mr. Mirza Aboo had already gone under cover. They realized that they were not in a position to get Mr. Ahmed on that occasion. Someone of their local cronies pointed out to my father and said that he was Dutta Babu and the main force behind the Mirza family.
Dad was segregated from us and tortured all through the day in one corner of the field. Later in the afternoon they segregated the Hindus and Muslims amongst the held Bangalees. Muslims were given a lecture on integrity of Pakistan and let go. The Hindus including myself and my uncle had a beating of our lives before we were allowed to run away. My Dad was kept with them. By that time the Chairman of that Union, came to know of the Army attack and despite knowing the risks came running to save his constituents. His parents were also rounded up.Alas, he was also arrested and tortured.
By dusk, finding no more possible success the Pak forces left for Chittagong after brutally killing my Dad and the Chairman. Two more Shaheeds were added to the list of those who had to lay their lives for our Freedom.
The next morning I buried my father's sacred body with respect, love and tears with the help of some locals assisted by Mirza family. It's an officially recognized Boddhyobhumi.
The next day, again with Mirza family's help our and M A Hannan's (Awami League leader, who read the proclamation of Independence from Chittagong Radio first on 26 March) families set forth on a difficult journey on foot to India through difficult CHT terrain. We made it and my struggle started as I took responsibility for my family trying to establish myself, my sisters and my Mom. With support of many we overcame all difficulties and at the end of the day after more than four decades I can say that we are at par with an average Bangladeshi.
I want to conclude by reiterating our demand of apology from Pakistan for the Genocide committed on Bangalees in 1971. One should remember this demand is never time barred. Rwanda could achieve it. Belgium apologized for its connivance in the murder of Patrice Lumumba 40 years after the happening. Armenians are still demanding recognition of Armenian genocide which has happened 100 years ago. They have achieved partial success. We should keep our fight ongoing.
I am sure we shall overcome all odds.