Though a half-educated man, I have a hobby to read history. Sometimes I try to post a few passages of history that I have read here and there. I understand that this Bangladesh Forum of the PDF is quite different from some other forums, and is not a place to discuss about serious topics.
Yet, I am posting a part of history written by a renowned Freedom Fighter, named Motiur Rahman Rentu. The passages are the direct translation of his book named, 'Amar Fashi Chai,' or 'I want my own Hanging by Rope.' I am not the translator.
The passage below writes of the conspiracy to kill the popular President Ziaur Rahman. I have no political affiliation and I am posting the topic in the hope that people will know about a part of the then real history of Bangladesh. Rentu belonged to the inner circle of Awami League and he fought under Kader Siddiqui against the BA after the killing of Bangbandhu. But, he wrote what his eyes saw and his ears heard. @bluesky
THE 30 MAY 1981 ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT ZIA
From 'Amar Fashi Chai' written by Motiur Rahman Rentu (a Freedom Fighter)
On 23 and 24 May 81, an urgent secret meeting of freedom fighters of 71 and 75 and some former members of the Army was held in the seminar room of the T.S.C. of Dhaka University. In that meeting, Colonel Shawkat Ali (at present Awamni League M.P. and an accused in the Agartala Conspiracy case) informed the meeting of the plan to assassinate freedom fighter President Ziaur Rahman and told what to do during and after the killing.
Colonel Shawkat Ali said that under the leadership of the G.O.C. Chittagong Major General Manzur Bir Uttam Zia would be killed and that our leader Shaikh Hasina had the knowledge of this plan for assassination. Our leader had instructed us to help and play a role in this plan. Awami League President Shaikh Hasina had returned home only a few days ago; how could she give a directive of this nature?
When asked, Colonel Shawkat replied that Shaikh Hasina had been informed while she had been out of the country in India. When asked as to what we were to do during and after the killing, Colonel Shawkat said that we would have to stay in Chittagong and Dhaka; those who would be in Chittagong should take the responsibility of coming to Dhaka after collecting arms from General Manzur; and those who could be in Dhaka should establish control over important places like radio and television centers with these weapons.
In reply to a question from one of us, he said that anytime from now the assassination could take place. As soon as Ziaur Rahman would visit Chittagong, he would be killed. Colonel Shawkat said that we would have to stay in Chittagong and Dhaka; those who would be in Chittagong should take the responsibility of coming to Dhaka after collecting arms from General Manzur; and those who could be in Dhaka should establish control over important places like radio and television centers with these weapons.
Colonel Shawkat also said that until Zia was killed, Chief of Staff of the Army Gcneral H.M.Ershad and other Generals in Dhaka as well as Colonel Mahfuzur Rahman of the President’s Guard Regiment would remain with the leader of the uprising, General Manzur. After the assassination, they would be divided. The Generals of Dhaka and the repatriated officers and troops from Pakistan would remain with the chief of staff.
On the other side, General Manzur would give leadership to the freedom fighter officers and troops of Chittagong. After the killing of General Zia, there would be a fight between the troops loyal to General Ershad and those loyal to General Manzur. In this battle, one side would be totally defeated by the other, though the victor would be very week. At this moment, we should attack the weak victors and defeat them. This was our task during and after the assassination.
In this secret and urgent meeting were present about 70 or 75 people, including Colonel Ghaffar, Major Nasir, Captain Hafiz and a few others, who had a role in the uprising on 3 November 75. In this meeting we were divided into three groups. One group was given the responsibility of going to Chittagong to collect weapons from General Manzur. The second group of about 30 or 35 pet-sons was entrusted with the work of travelling all over the country to inform the plan and to prepare all anti-Zia freedom fighters to take any type of action. The rest belonging to the third group would stay in Dhaka, and make preparation for action.
After President Ziaur Rahman arrived Chittagong a few Army officers under the leadership of General Manzur organized the uprising and at the dawn of 30th November killed freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman in the Chittagong Circuit House with little opposition. Yet, the troops and the general public rejected this killing. Officers obedient to General Manzur occupied Chittagong Radio and Television centers and kept these under their control. On this side in Dhaka, Chief of the Army General Ershad, General Mir Shawkat Bir Uttam, General Rahman and other officers and troops took position against General Manzur.
Yet, I am posting a part of history written by a renowned Freedom Fighter, named Motiur Rahman Rentu. The passages are the direct translation of his book named, 'Amar Fashi Chai,' or 'I want my own Hanging by Rope.' I am not the translator.
The passage below writes of the conspiracy to kill the popular President Ziaur Rahman. I have no political affiliation and I am posting the topic in the hope that people will know about a part of the then real history of Bangladesh. Rentu belonged to the inner circle of Awami League and he fought under Kader Siddiqui against the BA after the killing of Bangbandhu. But, he wrote what his eyes saw and his ears heard. @bluesky
THE 30 MAY 1981 ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT ZIA
From 'Amar Fashi Chai' written by Motiur Rahman Rentu (a Freedom Fighter)
On 23 and 24 May 81, an urgent secret meeting of freedom fighters of 71 and 75 and some former members of the Army was held in the seminar room of the T.S.C. of Dhaka University. In that meeting, Colonel Shawkat Ali (at present Awamni League M.P. and an accused in the Agartala Conspiracy case) informed the meeting of the plan to assassinate freedom fighter President Ziaur Rahman and told what to do during and after the killing.
Colonel Shawkat Ali said that under the leadership of the G.O.C. Chittagong Major General Manzur Bir Uttam Zia would be killed and that our leader Shaikh Hasina had the knowledge of this plan for assassination. Our leader had instructed us to help and play a role in this plan. Awami League President Shaikh Hasina had returned home only a few days ago; how could she give a directive of this nature?
When asked, Colonel Shawkat replied that Shaikh Hasina had been informed while she had been out of the country in India. When asked as to what we were to do during and after the killing, Colonel Shawkat said that we would have to stay in Chittagong and Dhaka; those who would be in Chittagong should take the responsibility of coming to Dhaka after collecting arms from General Manzur; and those who could be in Dhaka should establish control over important places like radio and television centers with these weapons.
In reply to a question from one of us, he said that anytime from now the assassination could take place. As soon as Ziaur Rahman would visit Chittagong, he would be killed. Colonel Shawkat said that we would have to stay in Chittagong and Dhaka; those who would be in Chittagong should take the responsibility of coming to Dhaka after collecting arms from General Manzur; and those who could be in Dhaka should establish control over important places like radio and television centers with these weapons.
Colonel Shawkat also said that until Zia was killed, Chief of Staff of the Army Gcneral H.M.Ershad and other Generals in Dhaka as well as Colonel Mahfuzur Rahman of the President’s Guard Regiment would remain with the leader of the uprising, General Manzur. After the assassination, they would be divided. The Generals of Dhaka and the repatriated officers and troops from Pakistan would remain with the chief of staff.
On the other side, General Manzur would give leadership to the freedom fighter officers and troops of Chittagong. After the killing of General Zia, there would be a fight between the troops loyal to General Ershad and those loyal to General Manzur. In this battle, one side would be totally defeated by the other, though the victor would be very week. At this moment, we should attack the weak victors and defeat them. This was our task during and after the assassination.
In this secret and urgent meeting were present about 70 or 75 people, including Colonel Ghaffar, Major Nasir, Captain Hafiz and a few others, who had a role in the uprising on 3 November 75. In this meeting we were divided into three groups. One group was given the responsibility of going to Chittagong to collect weapons from General Manzur. The second group of about 30 or 35 pet-sons was entrusted with the work of travelling all over the country to inform the plan and to prepare all anti-Zia freedom fighters to take any type of action. The rest belonging to the third group would stay in Dhaka, and make preparation for action.
After President Ziaur Rahman arrived Chittagong a few Army officers under the leadership of General Manzur organized the uprising and at the dawn of 30th November killed freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman in the Chittagong Circuit House with little opposition. Yet, the troops and the general public rejected this killing. Officers obedient to General Manzur occupied Chittagong Radio and Television centers and kept these under their control. On this side in Dhaka, Chief of the Army General Ershad, General Mir Shawkat Bir Uttam, General Rahman and other officers and troops took position against General Manzur.
