The nation should never forget Khaled Mosharraf Collected
Mahjabeen Khaled
Publish : 06 Nov 2021, 09:38 PMUpdate : 29 Nov 2021, 08:09 PM
It’s the month of November. On November 7, 1975, Bangladesh lost one of its beloved freedom fighters -- General Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttam, along with Col Khondkar Nazmul Huda Bir Bikram, Lt Col ATM Haider Bir Uttam, and many other freedom fighters and their family members.
General Khaled Mosharraf was known for his heroism -- for his guerilla warfare against the Pakistan army during the Liberation War in 1971. He was the sector commander of Bangladesh forces sector 2, and K force brigade commander. He was the leader of crack platoon, which regularly had its operations inside Dhaka city.
Due to these operations, the Pakistan army realized that freedom fighters are very active, and they are becoming very effective and powerful. In the end, the Western world realized the situation and was forced to give recognition to the freedom fight of Bangladesh. The whole world came to know about the atrocities of the Pakistan army against the innocent people of Bangladesh.
In 1971, Khaled Mosharraf realized that the Pakistan army was a very powerful and well-maintained force, and it would use all its strength against East Pakistan (Bangladesh). With one company and four EBR battalions, the Bangladeshi force could not win the challenges of the war.
Guerilla training
He thought of training the youth in guerrilla warfare. He followed the pattern of Vietnam and Latin America, where with usual warfare, they used this strategy. This was the only way to win this difficult war with Pakistani forces. This was the reason he had created the crack platoon with the youth of Dhaka city, and it was very successful.
During the war, there was a conversation between General Khaled and the fighters of the crack platoon. “No, no, I do not think, I do not understand, when you say, how would I make Dhaka into a heap of rubble,” explained Khaled Mosharraf, sitting in front of his Toyota jeep, at the back of the seat where Shahadat Chowdhury (then the editor of Bichitra Magazine) was sitting.
Shahadat had asked the young and handsome sector commander of sector 2 the question: “How would the freedom fighters along with the Bangladeshi army turn Dhaka into a graveyard, when in Dhaka, the parents and relatives of the freedom fighters fighting in this very sector are staying. You, being the sector commander, also have your own relations in Dhaka,” Shahadat poised, “would you let them die for no reason, by your own men?”
“Shahadat, you are not only an artist, but also a journalist. You have got to understand one thing very clearly -- this is a war and a bloody war that we have to fight against a trained army, and don’t forget for a single moment that we the soldiers with freedom fighters must win this war.”
From this conversation, it is clear that Khaled Mosharraf was preparing his forces for this long war. He was the inspiration for his force, family, relatives -- everything was secondary compared to the war.
Akhaura and Kosba
Khaled Mosharraf showed tremendous heroism and bravery during the battles of Akhaura and Kosba. These two were very important, difficult, and long battles. They were telecasted on a documentary named “Khaled’s War” produced by Grenada TV UK. This documentary has been shown many times all over the world. In this documentary, Khaled is seen giving an interview.
He says: “We are fighting a war of attrition, in that case we kill, kil, kill, in self-defense.” He was worried about this long war, because the Pakistani forces would kill more innocent civilians, and that would create suffering for the people.
This courageous officer said: “Let them empty Bangladesh of its people, but they can never take our soil.”
This can only prove his love for his country. He was determined to fight the enemy force till death. This was his promise to his country.
By the end of October, Khaled Mosharraf was wounded at the front battle, on his forehead, when a splinter hit him. He was critically injured. At that time, when the freedom fighter came to know the news of Khaled, they fell into deep sadness and mourning. Khaled was their beloved leader, he was their guardian and protector. Without him, who would take care of them? Fortunately, Lt Col AT Haider, second-in-command, came to their rescue, and took over from his commander.
Khaled was immediately taken to Lucknow, India, and was operated on by doctors in India. He was given a new life by them, and he recovered.
Bir Uttam
Khaled Mosharraf came back to free Bangladesh, and joined the armed forces of new Bangladesh. He was awarded the title Bir Uttam for his bravery and heroism on the battlefield. In 1975, after not even four years of independence, Khaled Mosharraf Bir Utaam, the valiant freedom fighter along with Col Khondoker Huda Bir Protik, and Lt Col ATM Haider Bir Uttam were killed by Bangladesh army officers.
In 1975, on August 15, when the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with his family members, the whole country fell into shock. It turned into a very dangerous time.
Khondaker Mostaq took over, and became the president of Bangladesh, but the murderers of Bangabandhu -- Faruq, Rashid, Dalim -- held onto power, and were dictating high-ranking officers. The country fell into disarray, and the chain of command in the army was totally broken.
During this time, Col Shafayet Jamil tried to speak to the chief of army Ziaur Rahman regarding the situation, and to take steps against the murderers. Zia was totally non-cooperative regarding this issue. We realize that Zia was always part of the Mostaq group. The Faruq-Rashid group consulted Zia before the killing of Bangabandhu and his family, and he benefitted the most from the assassination.
Uprooting the murderers
Khaled Mosharraf took the first step to uproot the murderers of Bangabandhu on November 2. First, he house-arrested Ziaur Rahman, and all his phone lines from home were disconnected, though his bedroom line was still in operation. First thing he did was call up Lt Col Abu Tahir (retd), left-wing JSD political party leader, requesting to be saved.
More killings
Mostaq secretly ordered the killing of four national leaders, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Mansur Ali, and AHM Qamruzzaman.
It was a big blow to Khaled Mosharraf, who was planning to bring the situation to normal. On November 4, through an order, Khaled was promoted to major general and the chief of army staff. He then immediately ordered a commission on the jail killings of four renowned leaders.
On November 5, when Khaled’s colleagues were requesting him to go on the radio and TV to address the nation, he completely refused. According to him, the new president had the right to give the speech only.
That very day, JSD with their Gono Bahini and Shainik Shangstha had been plotting their own scheme. Col Tahir (retd) found an opportunity with his two groups to start a so-called revolution. This so-called revolution was very irrational, and the start of bloodshed.
With a desire for a classless socialist country, from November 6, they instigated the cantonment against Khaled Mosharraf. They very clearly planned and distributed leaflets amongst the soldiers. The leaflets said that Khaled Mosharraf was a spy of India, and he had sold the country to India.
There was an effect on the soldiers, and they became agitated. They started chanting: “Soldiers are brothers, and we want the blood of the officers.”
This conspiracy helped the leader of JSD, and he with the help of the Shainik Shangstha tried to take over from General Khlaled Mosharraf. Though the tanks which were used for the August 15 assassination of Bangabandhu were supposed to go back to cantonment, two army units were still seen in Dhaka city.
Zia was liberated from house arrest. Mostaq, Faruq, and Rashid, faithful soldiers and officers, along with JSD, became the opponents of General Khaled Mosharraf.
When the news of the unruly soldiers and the JSD plot was revealed to Khaled Mosharraf, it was too late to take any action against them. With the deteriorating situation, he decided to go to the 10th East Bengal regiment, with the confirmation of Col Nawajish, who was the commander of the regiment.
General Khaled Mosharraf, Lt Col ATM Haider, and Col Huda took refuge at the regiment which was temporarily stationed near the Bangladesh parliament building. But the rowdy and dangerous soldiers arrived at the 10th Bengal regiment headed by Major Jalil and Major Asad. Major Jalil and Major Asad point blank shot the three courageous officers, and they died instantly.
The daring and brave heroes of Bangladesh were assassinated on Bangladesh soil, at the hands of Bangladesh soldiers.
A voice against injustice
Khaled Mosharraf raised his voice against wrong -- against the people who opposed the freedom fight and against the assasination of Bangabandhu and his family. November 7 was a coup d’état, but not a revolution.
According to the BNP, November 7 is National Revolution and Solidarity Day. They try to say that on that day, ordinary soldiers freed Zia. But the soldiers who revolted amongst them were Gono Bahini, Shainik Shansgtha, and a part of Faruq-Rashid loyal soldiers, who with JSD help freed Ziaur Rahman.
On the right track
Khaled was certainly on the right track in creating the conditions that would free the country of the usurpers who had been in charge since mid-August 1975. The officers who wanted to bring back the chain of command in the armed forces, re-instate democracy and the constitution, and guide the nation in our freedom fight, were brutally assassinated.
Today, after 46 years, we arrive on November 7. I am a proud daughter of a freedom fighter who not only fought for our country, but gave his life for his beliefs. As a conscious citizen of the country, I am requesting again to the Government of Bangladesh, who are on the side of the freedom fight, to find out the truth and bring the murderers to justice.
The officers Major Jalil and Major Asad who had killed Liberation War heroes are still at large, and are taking advantage of the army and the government. They should face the consequences, and they should be brought to justice.
The people who conspired against General Khaled Mosharraf and spread rumours and disrespected him should be also held accountable. They have carried out killings of other army officers and their families. They should be brought to justice.
It’s time for Bangladeshis to free the country from defamation, especially when we are celebrating 50 years of independence. The Bangladeshi people have the right to know the true history of November 7, and the real intentions of the freedom fighters.
I would request the Bangladesh Awami League government to declare November 7, officially, as “Killing day of the freedom fighters and the officers.”
Mahjabeen Khaled is a politician, and the daughter of Khaled Mosharraf.
The day we lost Khaled Mosharraf
It’s the month of November. On November 7, 1975, Bangladesh lost one of its beloved freedom fighters -- General Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttam, along with Col Khondkar Nazmul Huda Bir Bikram, Lt Col ATM Haider Bir Uttam, and many other freedom fighters and their family members.
General Khaled Mosharraf was known for his heroism -- for his guerilla warfare against the Pakistan army during the Liberation War in 1971. He was the sector commander of Bangladesh forces sector 2, and K force brigade commander. He was the leader of crack platoon, which regularly had its operations inside Dhaka city.
Due to these operations, the Pakistan army realized that freedom fighters are very active, and they are becoming very effective and powerful. In the end, the Western world realized the situation and was forced to give recognition to the freedom fight of Bangladesh. The whole world came to know about the atrocities of the Pakistan army against the innocent people of Bangladesh.
In 1971, Khaled Mosharraf realized that the Pakistan army was a very powerful and well-maintained force, and it would use all its strength against East Pakistan (Bangladesh). With one company and four EBR battalions, the Bangladeshi force could not win the challenges of the war.
Guerilla training
He thought of training the youth in guerrilla warfare. He followed the pattern of Vietnam and Latin America, where with usual warfare, they used this strategy. This was the only way to win this difficult war with Pakistani forces. This was the reason he had created the crack platoon with the youth of Dhaka city, and it was very successful.
During the war, there was a conversation between General Khaled and the fighters of the crack platoon. “No, no, I do not think, I do not understand, when you say, how would I make Dhaka into a heap of rubble,” explained Khaled Mosharraf, sitting in front of his Toyota jeep, at the back of the seat where Shahadat Chowdhury (then the editor of Bichitra Magazine) was sitting.
Shahadat had asked the young and handsome sector commander of sector 2 the question: “How would the freedom fighters along with the Bangladeshi army turn Dhaka into a graveyard, when in Dhaka, the parents and relatives of the freedom fighters fighting in this very sector are staying. You, being the sector commander, also have your own relations in Dhaka,” Shahadat poised, “would you let them die for no reason, by your own men?”
“Shahadat, you are not only an artist, but also a journalist. You have got to understand one thing very clearly -- this is a war and a bloody war that we have to fight against a trained army, and don’t forget for a single moment that we the soldiers with freedom fighters must win this war.”
From this conversation, it is clear that Khaled Mosharraf was preparing his forces for this long war. He was the inspiration for his force, family, relatives -- everything was secondary compared to the war.
Akhaura and Kosba
Khaled Mosharraf showed tremendous heroism and bravery during the battles of Akhaura and Kosba. These two were very important, difficult, and long battles. They were telecasted on a documentary named “Khaled’s War” produced by Grenada TV UK. This documentary has been shown many times all over the world. In this documentary, Khaled is seen giving an interview.
He says: “We are fighting a war of attrition, in that case we kill, kil, kill, in self-defense.” He was worried about this long war, because the Pakistani forces would kill more innocent civilians, and that would create suffering for the people.
This courageous officer said: “Let them empty Bangladesh of its people, but they can never take our soil.”
This can only prove his love for his country. He was determined to fight the enemy force till death. This was his promise to his country.
By the end of October, Khaled Mosharraf was wounded at the front battle, on his forehead, when a splinter hit him. He was critically injured. At that time, when the freedom fighter came to know the news of Khaled, they fell into deep sadness and mourning. Khaled was their beloved leader, he was their guardian and protector. Without him, who would take care of them? Fortunately, Lt Col AT Haider, second-in-command, came to their rescue, and took over from his commander.
Khaled was immediately taken to Lucknow, India, and was operated on by doctors in India. He was given a new life by them, and he recovered.
Bir Uttam
Khaled Mosharraf came back to free Bangladesh, and joined the armed forces of new Bangladesh. He was awarded the title Bir Uttam for his bravery and heroism on the battlefield. In 1975, after not even four years of independence, Khaled Mosharraf Bir Utaam, the valiant freedom fighter along with Col Khondoker Huda Bir Protik, and Lt Col ATM Haider Bir Uttam were killed by Bangladesh army officers.
In 1975, on August 15, when the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with his family members, the whole country fell into shock. It turned into a very dangerous time.
Khondaker Mostaq took over, and became the president of Bangladesh, but the murderers of Bangabandhu -- Faruq, Rashid, Dalim -- held onto power, and were dictating high-ranking officers. The country fell into disarray, and the chain of command in the army was totally broken.
During this time, Col Shafayet Jamil tried to speak to the chief of army Ziaur Rahman regarding the situation, and to take steps against the murderers. Zia was totally non-cooperative regarding this issue. We realize that Zia was always part of the Mostaq group. The Faruq-Rashid group consulted Zia before the killing of Bangabandhu and his family, and he benefitted the most from the assassination.
Uprooting the murderers
Khaled Mosharraf took the first step to uproot the murderers of Bangabandhu on November 2. First, he house-arrested Ziaur Rahman, and all his phone lines from home were disconnected, though his bedroom line was still in operation. First thing he did was call up Lt Col Abu Tahir (retd), left-wing JSD political party leader, requesting to be saved.
More killings
Mostaq secretly ordered the killing of four national leaders, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Mansur Ali, and AHM Qamruzzaman.
It was a big blow to Khaled Mosharraf, who was planning to bring the situation to normal. On November 4, through an order, Khaled was promoted to major general and the chief of army staff. He then immediately ordered a commission on the jail killings of four renowned leaders.
On November 5, when Khaled’s colleagues were requesting him to go on the radio and TV to address the nation, he completely refused. According to him, the new president had the right to give the speech only.
That very day, JSD with their Gono Bahini and Shainik Shangstha had been plotting their own scheme. Col Tahir (retd) found an opportunity with his two groups to start a so-called revolution. This so-called revolution was very irrational, and the start of bloodshed.
With a desire for a classless socialist country, from November 6, they instigated the cantonment against Khaled Mosharraf. They very clearly planned and distributed leaflets amongst the soldiers. The leaflets said that Khaled Mosharraf was a spy of India, and he had sold the country to India.
There was an effect on the soldiers, and they became agitated. They started chanting: “Soldiers are brothers, and we want the blood of the officers.”
This conspiracy helped the leader of JSD, and he with the help of the Shainik Shangstha tried to take over from General Khlaled Mosharraf. Though the tanks which were used for the August 15 assassination of Bangabandhu were supposed to go back to cantonment, two army units were still seen in Dhaka city.
Zia was liberated from house arrest. Mostaq, Faruq, and Rashid, faithful soldiers and officers, along with JSD, became the opponents of General Khaled Mosharraf.
When the news of the unruly soldiers and the JSD plot was revealed to Khaled Mosharraf, it was too late to take any action against them. With the deteriorating situation, he decided to go to the 10th East Bengal regiment, with the confirmation of Col Nawajish, who was the commander of the regiment.
General Khaled Mosharraf, Lt Col ATM Haider, and Col Huda took refuge at the regiment which was temporarily stationed near the Bangladesh parliament building. But the rowdy and dangerous soldiers arrived at the 10th Bengal regiment headed by Major Jalil and Major Asad. Major Jalil and Major Asad point blank shot the three courageous officers, and they died instantly.
The daring and brave heroes of Bangladesh were assassinated on Bangladesh soil, at the hands of Bangladesh soldiers.
A voice against injustice
Khaled Mosharraf raised his voice against wrong -- against the people who opposed the freedom fight and against the assasination of Bangabandhu and his family. November 7 was a coup d’état, but not a revolution.
According to the BNP, November 7 is National Revolution and Solidarity Day. They try to say that on that day, ordinary soldiers freed Zia. But the soldiers who revolted amongst them were Gono Bahini, Shainik Shansgtha, and a part of Faruq-Rashid loyal soldiers, who with JSD help freed Ziaur Rahman.
On the right track
Khaled was certainly on the right track in creating the conditions that would free the country of the usurpers who had been in charge since mid-August 1975. The officers who wanted to bring back the chain of command in the armed forces, re-instate democracy and the constitution, and guide the nation in our freedom fight, were brutally assassinated.
Today, after 46 years, we arrive on November 7. I am a proud daughter of a freedom fighter who not only fought for our country, but gave his life for his beliefs. As a conscious citizen of the country, I am requesting again to the Government of Bangladesh, who are on the side of the freedom fight, to find out the truth and bring the murderers to justice.
The officers Major Jalil and Major Asad who had killed Liberation War heroes are still at large, and are taking advantage of the army and the government. They should face the consequences, and they should be brought to justice.
The people who conspired against General Khaled Mosharraf and spread rumours and disrespected him should be also held accountable. They have carried out killings of other army officers and their families. They should be brought to justice.
It’s time for Bangladeshis to free the country from defamation, especially when we are celebrating 50 years of independence. The Bangladeshi people have the right to know the true history of November 7, and the real intentions of the freedom fighters.
I would request the Bangladesh Awami League government to declare November 7, officially, as “Killing day of the freedom fighters and the officers.”
Mahjabeen Khaled is a politician, and the daughter of Khaled Mosharraf.