first armed resistance Gazipur 1971

The firing of the Pakistani flag, the helicopter carrying GOC Sahebzada Yaqub Khan landed on the Rajbari ground by thousands of students throwing shoes and displaying black flags and not allowing him to get off the helicopter was one of the most talked-about events in the country at that time.

The Context of Independence

Bangabandhu's historic speech on March 7 at the racecourse ground

Background: West Pakistan started a conspiracy to prevent the party of the famous leader of East Bengal, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League, from forming a government in the national elections of East and West Pakistan even after getting an absolute majority. The session of the National Assembly to be held in Dhaka on March 3 was adjourned indefinitely. As a result, people from all walks of life in Dhaka protested, irrespective of their party affiliation. After the strike, the spontaneous presence of millions of people on the racecourse ground on March 7. The call of the non-cooperation movement of the best Bengali Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of all time and the skyrocketing slogan of independence in support of it clearly showed that the people of Bangladesh do not want to live with Pakistan anymore.

First armed resistance preparation

To turn Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's call for a non-cooperation movement into war, the brave Bengali Demonstrations made the Pak government confused but inspiring for the brave Bengalis all over the country. They were the first to launch armed resistance against the Pakistani government. That historic day was March 19, celebrated as "the first armed resistance" day.

All-Party Liberation Struggle Council: On March 2, 1971, under the supervision of Chief Mr. Habibullah (former MP), General Secretary of Gazipur Sub-Division Awami League, An 11-member "Mukti Sangram Parishad" was formed to move the war forward. Committee members:

All-Party Liberation Struggle Council:

1. Md. Habib Ullah, Member, High Command

2. Abdul Mottalib, Member, High Command

3. Babu Monindranath Goswami, Member, High Command

4. AQM Mozammel Haque, Convener, Action Committee

5. Nazrul Islam Khan, Treasurer, Action Committee

6. Abdus Sattar Miah, Member, Action Committee

7. Shahidullah Bachchu, Member, Action Committee

8. Harun Aur Rashid Bhuiyan, Member, Action Committee

9. Shahidul Islam Pathan, Member, Action Committee,

10. Nurul Islam, Teacher, Action Committee

11. Sheikh Abul Hossain, Member, Action Committee

It is worth mentioning here that besides the members of the committee who made a significant contribution on March 19, the names of Dr. Saeed Bhuiyan, Md. Ayesh Uddin, Abdul Barik Mia, Hazrat Ali, Md. Abdul Bari, Kazi Alim Uddin Buddin, and many others have been inscribed in golden letters in the pages of history.

The activities of "Mukti Sangram Parishad" started with arms training. At the leaders' initiative, since the beginning of the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1971, Jorpukur Par Pilot School ground, Gajari Garh area of Bhurulia, and other places in the district have started secretly imparting arms training. One of the most talked-about events in the country was the burning of the Pakistani flag by the then-student leaders Harun Aur Rashid and Shahidullah Bachchu at the end of a public meeting presided over by Dr. Saeed Bhuiyan at Battala beside Jockey School.

Furthermore, the helicopter carrying the then GOC Sahebzada Yakub Khan, who was visiting Second East Bengal, was not allowed to land at the Raj Bari Maydan. Thousands of students threw shoes and displayed black flags during the landing.

The repression of the Bengalis will be started by disarming. A day before the news became known (March 16), various Gazari trees were brought to the Joydebpur railway gate, and barricades were set up on the railway line so that the Pak army could not cross the railway line easily.

March 19 is the day of armed resistance

At 11 a.m., the Pak army removed the road barricade, including Tongi, and reached Joydebpur. The Brigade Commander was accompanied by 1 Lieutenant Colonel from Artillery, 1 Captain, 1 Major from Armor, 1 Captain from Infantry, 1 Captain from Commando, and 60 soldiers armed with Chinese LMG weapons.

The present railway crossing gate was a banyan tree known as Battala. The people again set up barricades with freight carriages at the Joydebpur railway gate on the main road. Besides, barricades were set up from Joydebpur to Tongi. When the news of processions, meetings, and barricades reached Jahanzeb, he offered to discuss. Discussions with other leaders, including Habibullah and MA Mottalib, failed. Jahanzeb then ordered Colonel Masood to open fire on the angry crowd.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Masudul Hasan finally instructed Moin to fire blank shots at the top. (Lt. Col. Masood was later taken, prisoner). Major Moin fired two blank shots, and the first armed resistance, Gazipur 1971, began. Nevertheless, this shooting made Brigadier Jahanzeb very angry. Eventually, Major Moin was forced to fire. Immediately, the late freedom fighter Kazi Azimuddin Master and a few others, including Sikandar Salam from Ordnance Factory, started firing at the Pak army from the two-story roof of the Central Jame Mosque adjacent to Vabarel Station. At this time, Kazi Azim Uddin and his gun also roared.

At this very moment, the ex-soldiers of the Ordnance Factory snatched 4 Chinese rifles and 1 Chinese SM-G from the Bengali soldiers in a military convoy carrying rations from Tangail and started firing on the Punjabis. Niyamt and Manu Mia were martyred on the spot in this battle of Gulas. Yusuf was injured along with Doctor, Santosh, and a few others. The Pakistanis imposed an indefinite curfew with a microphone to allow the Bengalis to retreat. The people dispersed like that and went to a safe place.

Then the Punjabis started marching toward the crossroads with the wounded. On the east side of the crossroads, where there is now a board on Hurmat Road, the workers of the crossroads set up a barricade, and here the Pak army shelled heavily. Despite being there, he could not attack the Pakistanis. As a result, Hurmat was martyred on the spot. Later injured, Kanu Mia died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

After a continuous 72-hour curfew, the region's leaders informed Bangabandhu about the matter through Mr. Shamsul Haque. Finally Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman met Yahya Khan. They gave Bangabandhu a condition that they would lift the curfew only if some members of the Pak army and their looted weapons were returned. Weapons are returned so that the people do not suffer. After that, the Pak army lifted the curfew. On that day, the fire of rebellion against the Pak army spread from the city to the remote areas of the country and shook the whole of Bangladesh, and after that, the slogan was raised all over the country-

"Take the path of Joydevpur, make Bangladesh independent

Take the path of Joydevpur - start an armed war"

"Jagrat Chowrangi"

"I have a fresh grenade in my right hand

Rebel I'm thirsty for liberation

The soul is always overwhelmed

I know you

I am the liberation army"

"Jagrat Chowrangi" is the first sculpture inspired by the liberation war. It was built in 1973 by its sculptor Abdur Razzak. The sculpture is placed at the Joydevpur crossroads. The sculpture was erected under the supervision of former Major General Amin Ahmad Chowdhury, commander of the 18th East Bengal Regiment stationed at Joydebpur Rajbari. The height of the sculpture is 100 feet from the ground. On both sides are engraved the names of one hundred, six, and one hundred soldiers of the 16th East Bengal Regiment in Sector 11 and Sector 3.

"Inspiration 19"

A memorial sculpture "Inspiration 19" has been erected at Gazipur Circuit House at the initiative of the district administration to present the memory of March 19 to the next generation. Liberation War Affairs Minister AQM Mozammel Haque MP unveiled the sculpture at Drishtinandan.

A rare letter was written by Bangabandhu

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not forget that day of 19th March. After gaining independence he proudly recalled the first day of armed resistance of the Gazipur people against the Pak army.

Rare letter written by Bangabandhu — A rare letter was written by Bangabandhu

The Minister of Liberation War Affairs

Liberation War Affairs Minister Mr. AKM Mozammel Haque

Today's Minister for Liberation War Affairs A K M Mozammel Haque MP led the resistance struggle in 1971. The people of the martyr's family and the freedom fighters now have various demands, including celebrating the day nationally. In this regard, the Minister for Liberation War Affairs, AQM Mozammel Haque, said, "Respecting the demand for the national observance of March 19, the President has kindly agreed to recognize the heroic war of the people of Gazipur." The national observance of March 19 will start in the whole country in the future.

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