Dhaka: Immediately after the partition of 1947, the people of East Bengal understood; Dream autonomy is still a long way off. As a result, new activities started. The goal was achieved through twenty-five years of long political tensions and nine months of armed struggle. The man who played a pioneering role throughout the whole struggle; he is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Pakistanis dug graves but did not dare to kill. That barbaric act was done by the people who grew up on the soil and water of Bengal. In whose hands a country was born; he could not survive in that country!
Two branches of the army took part in the assassination of the Father of the Nation. First, Bengal Lancer and two, Field Artillery. Major Khandoker Abdur Rashid was the commanding officer of the Two Field Artillery under the 46th Brigade. Six months before the assassination of Bangabandhu, till before six months First Bengal Lancer was also under the 46th Brigade. Colonel Mumin, the Commanding Officer, was on leave on August 15. Major Farooq, the 2-IC was the CO.
Brigadier AKM Shahjahan was the 2-IC of the 16th East Bengal Regiment at the time of the incident. The location was at Joydebpur. Ambush demonstration of the regiment was on 14 August night. Safayat Jamil, General Zia and Khaled Musharraf were present. The ambush demonstration ended at 11 am. Suddenly Major Rashid came to Shahjahan and stood up. He told me to go to New Airport at night with his troops. Shahjahan did not agree as the troops were not allowed to march at night. But Rashid is not the one to give up. He told his superiors Safayat Jamil and Khaled Musharraf that they were forced to use force like anything. They both denied it.
On the one hand, the Safayat Jamil was monitoring whether the force has returned from Gazipur after the ambush demonstration; On the other hand, on the pretext of the night parade, Bengal Lancer Farooq and the receipt of the artillery unit are preparing for the horrific murder. The arsenal has been opened, Major Farooq is giving political speeches, dismissals are roaming the cantonments; but neither the eyes nor the attention of the intelligences aroused suspicion. Didn't really catch the eye of intelligences; Or was there an act of not knowing?
In a public briefing, Major Farooq announced the purpose of the assembled forces. "The meeting will be held on August 15 at the university. Then the monarchy will be declared. Sheikh Mujib will declare monarchy. We do not support monarchy. Now whatever I say, whatever my officers say; you will hear it. I made the country independent by risking my life. The government cannot protect us. People are dying without food. This government must be overthrown. ” Moreover, the following figure was available in bold.
1. The members of Farooq's First Bengal Lancer gathered at the New Airport at night in the name of Night Parade.
2. They were later joined by Rashid's two-field artillery.
3. Dismissed army officers also joined the night parade.
4. Rashid and Farooq spoke in front of army members calling for the overthrow of the government.
5. There were no tank shells or small arms fire because there was no live ammunition in the exercise.
6. Between 11pm and 11:30 pm, Colonel Rashid and others opened the arsenal and took away arms and ammunition.
7. From Balurghat New Airport, the killers reached Bangabandhu Bhaban, Serniabat's house, Radio Center and Sheikh Moni's house.
8. Preparations for the murder went on all night.
9. The first group of killers reached near Bangabandhu's house at 4 am. For an hour they established their position with cannons.
Despite all this, the military intelligence informed the army chief about the news after the attack on Dhanmondi Road No. 32. Before few days back, DGFI Chief Brigadier Rauf informed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman about the anti-government conspiracy of a section of the army. But they did not know the activities of Farooq-Rashid, the ceremony of arms and ammunition, the journey with tanks or the siege of the President's house.
On 15th August, Major Ziauddin was in charge of the President's security at Dhaka University. He left DGFI Mess for the university at 5.30 am. On the way he found tanks on the island in Mohakhali and in the ditch on the side of the road. In front of the present museum, a soldier came and spoke on Major Dalim's radio.
In other words, even the DGFI unit in charge of the security of the President could know the news of the assassination of the President from the announcement of Major Dalim on the radio!