Rezaaul and Jobbar win the war but lose the fight against poverty
Only a few days before, we have been seeing the 50 years of our independent country in the history of our nation. The liberation people of this country gave everything with their righteous bravery and succeeded in bringing us the historic victory. But unfortunately, it is a shame for us as a nation that freedom fighters who fought for this country's independence in 1971, they have to fight against deprivation.
If we see in our nation still many freedom fighters deprive of their rights. Two of them are Mohammad Rezaaul Islam and Mohammad Jobbar Hossain. Even if they were not so trained but their heart was driven by the spirit of independence and they took the risk to sacrifice their lives happily in battle.
One of them is Jobbar, late Jabed Hossain's son. He entered the mid-stages of the war and, like most independence fighters, lost his happiness.
“When I joined the war, I was only 26 years old, giving labor on the field and I was made to fight by my indomitable motherland spirit and devotion” Jobbar says.
His war started in Sylhet, in Jagannathpur, Sector 5 under Commander of Freedom Fighters Mir Shawkat Ali. Before that, he ran away in India and trained for 21 days at Chakulia Station in Birbhum. Like other freedom fighters, Jobbar also lost his fellow comrades. He saw the brutality of the Pakistani army tortured women and young men during the liberation war. And the Pakistani and Rajakar Bahini used to ask general people “Mukti kidhar hain”.
Another one is Reezaul Islam, who started the war when he was 18 years old. He also got training in India and came to Churamankathi with Bamboo and wood stick to defeat the enemy by the affinity of 7th march fire-blast speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujeebur Rahman but they defeated. At that time one of the freedom fighters shot dead by the Pakistani Army. Then they came back to the border area and EPR gave them arms to fights, sector 8 under Commander Abul Manzoor.
On December 6, 1971, the region was reclaimed. During the fighting, the Sector Commander-in-Chief Mukti Bahini awarded Jobbar and Rezaaul a certificate as a Freedom Fighter. The Pakistani government was defeated, but the ongoing poverty could not be defeated. They are still fighting against poverty but some people certified as freedom fighters and got a good position without even part of the war.
The depressed financial conditions of Rezaaul forced him to sell his property and work as a security guard. He is currently living in Abdulpur, Jessore at the age of 63. And Jobbar 71 years old still works on people’s land, lives in a khas piece of land near a canal in Bagdanga, Jessore, where his family members still work.
The Government released the list of freedom fighters but it did not include Jobbar and Rezaaul and many other freedom fighters’ names. The officials involved went door-to-door to add their names to the updated list. They could not, which frustrated them.
“For the freedom of the land, I sacrificed all my personal comfort and enjoyment. But I’ve got to fight now to get a bread piece. Many individuals have been accepted recently as freedom fighters and are eligible for pensions and other benefits. However, I am deprived of all privileges, in spite of being a freedom fighter, I want recognition”. Says Freedom Fighter Aziz Ali.
Fifty years ago, in the shadow of a horrific massacre by the Pakistani army. We recognize that this special right that we possess is the outcome of the freedom fighters’ dedication, and we salute them for it as we commemorate our golden anniversary of independence. Along with all the men and women who endured so much in order to free us from the brutal Pakistani regime.
Undoubtedly, they should get their recognition and deserve a healthy, prosperous life.