The legendary freedom fighter Major General Khaled Musharraf was assassinated on this day in 1975. A true son of the soil, he always put duty and country before any consideration for his own life, which is why, after the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed in his home along with most of his family on August 15 that fateful year, Musharraf did not hesitate to make his move against the assassins.
It was Musharraf’s immediate action, his courage and bravery in the face of tremendously powerful forces, that changed the course of history and tipped the scales on the side of the good. Tragically, he paid the price for it with his own life. Poetically, Musharraf himself had once said: “No independent country wants living guerillas. They want martyrs.”
In the aftermath of the Bangabandhu assassination, Mushtaq was planted as president, and the chain-of-command in the armed forced had broken down, which was unacceptable to Musharraf. In a counter insurrection led by Khaled Musharraf and other fighters of the Liberation War, Mushtaq was overthrown.
Retired colonel Abu Taher and a few who chose to follow him launched a campaign against Mushrraf, who took refuge at the 10th East Bengal Regiment. Alas, there he was gunned down, along with his comrades Najmul Huda and ATM Haider.
Had Major General Khaled Musharraf lived on, he could have contributed greatly towards rebuilding the country in subsequent years, and healing its wounds. Tragically, this great patriot was cut down in his prime. He was always ready to give his life for his country, and in the end, he did exactly that.