Though he was a Urdu speaker and physically impaired, Jahir Ahmed Khan at Jummapara in the district town gave his heart to Bangladesh’s Liberation War with his all-out efforts, but had so far been counted out.
A considerate and sympathetic personality, Jahir, has been living a life of destitution for long.
Despite the fact that some foreigners’ contributions to the country’s Liberation War was taken into account, Jahir’s endeavor went unnoticed.
He lost all his assets during the Liberation War as the Urdu-speaking “Bihari” people burnt his house for helping freedom-loving Bangalees.
Jahir was declared “Kawmik Gaddhar” enemy of Pakistani lineage by the other Urdu-speaking people in Lalmonirhat town.
He was also subjected to excruciating torture by a group of Urdu-speakers.
“I didn’t carry out their order bowing down under their pressure, rather I started helping Bangalees and freedom fighters,” he said.
Like many other people, he went to India on 16 April in 1971 for receiving training but was denied as his left leg was impaired. Frustrated, Jahir returned to Bangladesh but didn’t go home because of death threat by Bihari people.
He straightaway went to his maternal uncle Rosul Mahmud’s house at Khotkhotiya village of Rangpur district and began to help the freedom fighters.
He worked as a reliable source who obtained information from the Pakistanis and passed them to freedom fighters.
“My elder brother Farid Ahmed Khan and I jointly canvassed for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s meeting twice before the liberation war though Urdu-speaking people stood in the way,” he said.
Jahir Ahmed Khan’s father and his grandfather came to Lalmonirhat from Asansol in India during the British reign.
Jodhdha Sangsad Commander Abu Bakkar Siddique said Jahir name will be on the list of freedom fighters soon.
