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Abdul Malek Chowdhury's 1971 War Experience

The document interviews Abdul Malek Chowdhury, a 70-year-old veteran Bangladeshi freedom fighter. It details his experiences during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, including participating in the 1970 election campaign, joining the guerilla war after training in India, and fighting until victory was achieved in December 1971. It discusses the discrimination faced by East Pakistanis that motivated him to support independence.

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MOHAMMAD FASIUL ABEDIN KHAN
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175 views4 pages

Abdul Malek Chowdhury's 1971 War Experience

The document interviews Abdul Malek Chowdhury, a 70-year-old veteran Bangladeshi freedom fighter. It details his experiences during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, including participating in the 1970 election campaign, joining the guerilla war after training in India, and fighting until victory was achieved in December 1971. It discusses the discrimination faced by East Pakistanis that motivated him to support independence.

Uploaded by

MOHAMMAD FASIUL ABEDIN KHAN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Interviewee:

Name: Abdul Malek Chowdhury

Age: 70 (1952- )

Gender: Male

Relationship: Distant paternal uncle

Interviewer:

Name: Mohammad Fasiul Abedin Khan

ID: 22121092
Oral experience of 1971 with Abdul Malek

Chowdhury, 10 November 2022


Mr. Abdul Malek Chowdhury (1952-) is a veteran freedom fighter who was born to a Bangla-

speaking family in Cumilla in 1952. His father was a farmer, while his mother was a housewife.

He was raised in the village and later attended college in Cumilla city. In 1971, he was a third-

year student at Cumilla Polytechnic Institute. He was also a political activist in 1971. He played

an active role in the 1970 election. He participated in the Bangladeshi liberation war under

Sector 2 and fought primarily in Cumilla. Later, he contributed to the reconstruction of a war-

ravaged nation under the direction of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and local Awami

League leaders.

Bangladeshis were inspired to fight against the oppressive West Pakistani army by the outcome

of the 1970 election, which fueled Bangladeshi nationalism. Chowdhury (2022) declared, "I

actively participated in the 1970 election, coordinating the election campaign with my friends

and senior political leaders from the Awami League's command center near Victoria College

in Kandirpar, Cumilla." In addition, he stated that he has been active in the field since his

freshman year of college and has participated in Awami League-led movements. Additionally,

he stated that they were preparing for something worse to occur in the near future and that the

worst event occurred early on March 26, 1971.

Pakistan launched a military operation codenamed "Operation Searchlight" to suppress the

Bengali nationalist movement. The operation was conducted in Dhaka, the nation's capital.
And in response to a question about "Black Night," Chowdhury (2022) stated: "I was at the

party office until late at night, and the word was spreading that a large military march from

Cumilla Cantonment was headed toward the capital. Many senior leaders foresaw potential

future events and advised junior leaders such as myself to return home." He added that he went

to his older brother's residence, which was adjacent to "Nanua dighi." He added that March 25

was a Thursday, "Operation Searchlight" became widely known on March 26 (a Friday), and

his brother forbade him from leaving the house to attend Jummah prayer.

When asked what he did after learning about Operation Searchlight, he stated that he traveled

by boat to the village on the opposite side of the river because communication was not yet

established and the road was not safe. Then he stated that he crossed the border with the

assistance of a relative who worked for the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), and he was

accompanied by the Indian Border Security Force ( BSF). Upon his arrival in India, Captain

BK Majumder of the BSF questioned him as to whether or not he desired independence. After

receiving confirmation, he was instructed to return to Bangladesh and assemble individuals.

Then, he returns to Bangladesh to work as a coordinator, recruiting individuals to join the fight.

At this time, he was asked what drove him to join the battle. He stated that he was motivated

by the six-point demand and Bangabandhu's March 7 speech, which he heard on the radio on

March 8 because he was unable to travel to Dhaka due to transportation issues, and that he was

also highly motivated by the notion that a new nation is required to overcome all of the

discrimination that East Pakistanis face and a reserve of our own is necessary for us to prosper.

Following that, he was asked when he began training. He responded that he worked as a

convener until April 1971 and that after the formation of the Mujibnagar government on 10
April, he traveled to India for training before returning to Bangladesh in October to participate

in the Guerilla war. He added that after the formation of the Mujibnagar government, people

from all corners of the country were inspired to join the war, along with EPR, police, and army

personnel, giving them the strength to fight against an organized military force. In addition, he

stated that the war gained momentum in November, when the Indian airforce and army joined

the war, and with a broad beaming smile, he stated that we achieved victory on 5 December,

when Cumilla was liberated, and that on 16 December, we achieved final victory.

And finally, he was asked about his experiences during the war. He began crying and explained

that he had lost his older sister, who was in the refugee camp, but he was unaware of this until

the war ended. He added that many people left their families in dire straits to join the war, and

despite missing them, they had no way to communicate with them. And if they somehow

learned of bad news, there was no way to escape the frontier. He stated that many people joined

the war without consideration and never asked for anything in return.

The final question posed to him was what he did following his victory. He stated that there was

disorder in every corner and a food shortage. Consequently, he and other young Awami League

leaders attempted to assist those in need as much as possible. He also stated that he obtained a

relief fund of 10,000 takas for his union, which consisted of 43 villages, and he attempted to

assist everyone with limited resources. He concluded by saying, "I fought to achieve this

victory, but in exchange, I never asked for anything and never sought to profit from the title of

freedom fighter."

Common questions

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Abdul Malek Chowdhury evolved from being a political activist involved in election campaigns and protests to an active combat role when 'Operation Searchlight' commenced. Initially engaged in organizational roles, he crossed into India for military training after the temporary Mujibnagar government's formation. Upon completion, he returned in October to participate directly in guerilla warfare contributing significantly to the liberation effort .

The liberation of Cumilla was significant in Abdul Malek Chowdhury's narrative as it symbolized an important victory, occurring on December 5, which preluded the final victory on December 16. This local liberation was a key part of the broader success against the Pakistani army and was a pivotal moment in the overarching struggle for national independence .

Post-war, Abdul Malek Chowdhury faced significant disorder and food shortages. In response, he and other young Awami League leaders attempted to help those in need as much as possible, including obtaining a relief fund of 10,000 takas for his union, which comprised 43 villages, to assist with the limited resources available .

Abdul Malek Chowdhury believed in the necessity of forming a new nation to overcome the discrimination faced by East Pakistanis. Fueled by the six-point demand and Bangabandhu's speech, he was motivated by the idea that independence was crucial for their prosperity and to ensure self-determination, thus driving his commitment to the liberation movement .

The formation of the Mujibnagar government inspired people from all over Bangladesh to join the liberation war, including individuals from the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police, and military personnel, which provided the necessary strength to fight against an organized military. It signaled a collective movement that bolstered morale and increased participation within the forces against the Pakistani army .

Abdul Malek Chowdhury was motivated by the six-point demand and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 speech, which he listened to on the radio. Due to transportation issues preventing him from traveling to Dhaka, he felt inspired by the necessity of overcoming discrimination and building a new nation. Initially, he worked as a convener until April 1971, encouraging others to join the war effort .

After hearing about "Operation Searchlight," Abdul Malek Chowdhury evacuated to the village on the opposite side of the river due to unsafe roads and lack of communication. He then crossed the border into India with the help of a relative and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), who questioned him about his desire for independence. After confirming, they instructed him to return to Bangladesh to recruit others to join the fight, where he worked as a coordinator and recruiting individuals .

Abdul Malek Chowdhury described the emotional impact of the war as profound and devastating, highlighting the loss of his older sister who was in a refugee camp. He mentioned the difficulties faced due to lack of communication and the inability to leave the front when receiving bad news. Despite the immense personal losses and hardships, people joined the war selflessly without expectation of personal gain .

After the Mujibnagar government's formation, Abdul Malek Chowdhury utilized his leadership skills to motivate and coordinate recruitment efforts. As a convener, he worked to gather individuals to join the guerilla forces, leveraging the newly inspired nationalistic fervor and organizing them to combat the Pakistani military effectively, demonstrating dynamic leadership under challenging circumstances .

Chowdhury's narrative highlights that limited communication and transport shaped the resistance strategies by necessitating secrecy and improvisation. With roads unsafe and communications down following "Operation Searchlight," he had to rely on alternative travel means like boats and personal networks to connect with broader support systems in India, demonstrating how adaptive strategies were crucial in overcoming logistical barriers .

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