Start of Pakistan and India war

2008-07-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Calcutta and took shelter at the address of 87, Shova Bazar Street. That was an old building of ancient time. The ground floor and first floor were housed as office of Eastern Shipping Company of' the owner. The second floor was vacant. There Mr. Mahmud and another more three persons coming from Bangladesh used to live. One of them was Mr. Habibur Rahman. He came from Dhaka and was the President of Dhaka City Awami League. Another person was Mr. Abdul Qyium who was journalist in profession. At that time he had been serving in BSS. The third person was the krishak (peasant) leader Mr. S.M. Azizul Haq Shahjahan ali as Shajahan Bhai. Still we can see them occasionally. Their meals were brought here from the owner of the house of Raza Roy Shaheb. I used to go to the hotel situated under Chitpur Big Mosque. After a few days Raza Roy Shaheb came to know about my arrival in that house. As a result he increased the number of meals also for me. The memory of such behavior and affection of Roy Shaheb towards us marked very heavily still in our heart. I do not know whether he is still alive or not. Being united we all were passing our times nicely by collection of news and discussions. Before leaving Agartala, Krishnaiiagar office directed me to participate in a rescue team for the stranded Bengalees from Pakistani Mission, New Delhi. But since I came here, there was no necessity of that job. I was directed to work in the Bangladesh Planning Cell under Prime Minister Tazuddin Ahmed. Prof. Mozaffar Hossain Chowdhury was working as the chief of that cell. I was directed to draw a shape of the administration of Bangladesh Government. As directed, I drew the shape in my own hand. In the shape it was projected what would be the structure of the Bangladesh Government. With that work Mr. Anisuzzaman was with me. He was from Pabna. We both did many works.
Start of Pakistan and India war.
On 3rd December India and Pakistan war started. I could realize why that we did works. In Bangladesh, we won independence under the joint leadership of the Freedom Fighters and the Indian Forces. Shafique was at that time in Calcutta. He joined in Bangladesh Archives. Whole day and night he was involved in the activities for collection and preservation of the Bangladesh related news from various news papers and magazines about the Bangladeshi refugee, freedom fighters, repression and oppression of Pakistan Army, firing and burning and success of freedom fighting and freedom fighters. He was not with me; he was residing at Begbagan with an employee of Bangladeshi Mission. There Principal Abu Hamed Sliaheb of Kuttapara, Brahmanbaria used to reside with him also. Mr. Abu Hamed worked for Awami League throughout his life and was a literate respectful man of the habit of living a very simple life. Having acquainted with him I felt much, satisfaction. Still he had been maintaining a very easy and simple life. There was no change in him, the ideology of Bangabandhu was all to him.

In the meantime we were getting news that Pakistan assembled army heavily in the western border of India. Many people thought the matter as rumour. But it appeared to me true on the reason that the success of the freedom fighters throughout the month of October, I thought, though the freedom fighters would not be able to capture Dhaka within one month, they would surely encircle Dhaka. Realizing that matter they wanted to wage war with India and would thereby divert the attention to other direction. It might be that after commencement of India Pakistan war the United Nations would lake steps for implementation of the proposal for ceasefire by the pressure of USA and China. Therefore I was apprehending attack by Pakistan on India at any time.

On the contrary Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India was traveling throughout the world and exposing the painful picture of barbarous attack and killing of the Bengalese by Pakistan. The intention of her tour was to attract support of the big countries of the world. Getting the news of army mobilization of Pakistan in both the borders of eastern and western side, Mrs. Indira Gandhi shortened her tour and returned home. In the mean time Russia gave veto to the proposal made to United Nations by USA in favor of Pakistan. As if we got a new life in the midst of terrible effusive and full of anxieties. I then realized that there would be no delay in getting independence of the country. The final battle was very imminent.
Mrs. Indira Gandhi came to Calcutta on December 3. To make speech in the field of Gar, she came to know that Pakistan war fighters bombed a significant number of towns of India including Agra. Shortening her speech she flew to Delhi. From that time the announcement of war was made. In all the places of the western side of the India-Pakistan border fierce battle look place.
The freedom fighters and Indian army made a heavy pressure against Pakistani aggressors. Guerilla attack became violent. About from all sides of the borders of East Pakistan i.e. Bangladesh the freedom fighters in co-operation with Indian forces began to move backs the Pakistani forces.