Reliving the momentous days of 1971

Farukh (film actor)
In my view, the Liberation War of Bangladesh started from 1966. Since then there have been popular protests against the injustice and deprivation of the nation. We organised ourselves under the leadership of Bangabandhu. People from all walks of life fought for the country and inspired the freedom fighters.

I can recall many things now about our Liberation War, some of which I will share with you.

I was in the Khaled Musharraf's sector and was trained under Lieutenant General Ovan in Dehradun, India.

It was March 25, when my friend Nader and elderly Bengis Bhai informed me about the disturbed political scenario of the country. I stayed in Shamoly with my sister at that time. We went to the residence of Bangabandhu and he advised us to be careful. Nader went to some other place and told me that if he gave me a secret note I should go to a fixed location. Nader was killed during the Liberation War.

I was having my tea on the 25th night at Paramount Hotel at Nawabpur. My debut film Jalchhobi was released at that time. There was tension everywhere. Meanwhile a policeman told everybody to go back home because the army had been deployed in the city. I don't know from where I got so much courage.

Some people were standing on a nearby bridge as I began to give a speech. Soon, some 150 people gathered there to listen to me. We were placing barricades on the street. We did not know that there was an army camp in Shadarghat. Soon a Pakistani military jeep arrived at the spot and an army personnel pointed a gun at us. I reacted to this.

However, he soon left the place for unknown reasons. Everybody embraced me and we distributed sweets amongst ourselves. But we did not withdraw our barricades. A very short while later we heard that the Rajarbagh Police Line had been attacked. And the firing had started by then. That was a horrifying moment. Those who have not experienced such brutality won't be able to realise the situation.

I had many other experiences during the wartime. Once, when I was engaged in a guerilla fight at Jinjira, I hid inside a grave to save my life from the Pakistani Army. I was lucky to be saved because about 10,000 people were killed in that battle within half an hour. I shiver even now whenever I think of that moment. But I regret that there is no monument for those martyrs in Jinjira. It is true that thousands of people had died in our Liberation War but Jinjira is the only place where altogether 10,000 people were killed in one operation.

On December 14 or 15, I went to India through Comilla, leaving behind my father and elder sister, who were both freedom fighters. I bade farewell to them and started my lone journey. I met a fellow freedom fighter on the way. He told me that the war was over and we should head back to Dhaka. Overwhelmed with joy and happiness, I went back to Dhaka.

Jewel Aich (Magician)
At the beginning of the Liberation War, a collaborator of the Pakistan Army who was our neighbour as well, looted all the goods of our house. We lost our furniture and ornaments and I lost my magic kits. They even dug the cemented floor of our rooms. I took part in the war and dreamt of liberating the country. I went to West Bengal in the middle of the war as I got very sick. Then the doctors advised me to engage in less difficult jobs like teaching in the camps and schools. I was inspiring the people to fight the war. This is how we got a flag and an independent country.