Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheikh
Nur Mohammad Sheikh (26 February 1936 - 5 September 1971) was a Lance Nayek in East Pakistan Rifles during the Liberation War. He was killed in an engagement with the Pakistan Army while providing fire for covering the extrication of fellow soldiers at Goalhati in Jessore district on September 5 1971. Nur Mohammad died saving his compatriots and inflicting heavy casualties on his enemy. He was awarded Bir Sreshtho, the highest state insignia of Bangladesh for his bravery and the highest sacrifice.
Early life
Nur Mohammad Sheikh was born at Moheshkhali village in Narail. His father was Mohammad Amanat Sheikh and mother was Mosammat Jinnatunnesa Khanam. He continued his education up to seventh grade at local schools.He lost his parents at an early age.His wife name was "total bibi". On 14 March 1959, he joined the East Pakistan Rifles. After finishing the elementary training, he was appointed at the Dinajpur sector. He was transferred to Jessore sector on 1 July 1970. At March 1971, Nur Mohammad was staying at his village in a vacation. As the war started, he joined sector 8 and continued to take part at different battles at Jessore. He died on 5 September during the Goalhati Battle in Sutipur.
Battle of Goalhati
Lance Nayek Nur Mohammad was selected as the captain of the Standing Patrol team at Goalhati that was established to monitor the Pakistan army. On September 5, Nur Mohammad was patrolling with 4 fellow soldiers. The Pakistan army managed to point out the position of Nur Mohammad's team and attacked them from three different sides. Nur Mohammad wanted to retreat to his base and continued to fire towards Pakistani armies. Meanwhile, one of his fellow soldier was shot by the bullet and Nur Mohammad started carrying him towards safety. But Nur Mohammad himself was hit by a mortar. Even though he was seriously injured, Nur Mohammad decided to continue to provide covering fire for his team. At the time, his fellow Sepoy, Mostafa, urged Nur Mohammad to go with him. Mostafa even forced Nur Mohammad to go with him but Nur Mohammad refused to go but gave his Light Machine Gun to Mostafa so that it would not be captured after his death. He kept a self loaded rifle with him and kept on fighting until he died. He was posthumously awarded the highest gallantry award "Bir Shrestho" for his bravery during the War of Liberation.
Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf
Munshi Abdur Rouf was a Lance Nayek in East Pakistan Rifles during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He enrolled in the East Bengal Regiment on 8 May 1963, and was attached with a regular infantry unit during War of Liberation. Munshi Abdur Rouf embraced martyrdom on 18 April 1971 at Kurighat in Chittagong Hill Tracts after causing extensive damage to Pakistan Army with his MG and forcing them to retreat. He was buried at Naniarchor Upazilla in Rangamati District.He was awarded Bir Sreshtho, which is the highest recognition of bravery in Bangladesh.
Early life:
Munshi Abdur Rouf was born on 1 May 1943 at Salamatpur village under Boalmari thana (currently Madhukhali thana) in Faridpur District. His father Munshi Mehedi Hossain was an Imam at a local mosque and his mother was a Mukidunnesa. After his father's death in 1955, Rouf had to stop his education at his eighth grade. He joined the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May 1963. He had to increase his age three years in order to get the job. After the preliminary training at the EPR camp at Chuadanga, Rouf went to West Pakistan to receive advanced training. He was appointed to Comilla after 6 months.
Death:
East Bengal Regiment wanted to restrict the Pakistan Army from using the Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway. Thus, they camped at both of the Chingri Lake at Burighat. Munshi Abdur Rouf was serving as a soldier in this company. In order to prevent the Pakistan Army from utilizing the Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway, 8th East Bengal Regiment constructed a camp at both sides On 18 April 1971, Pakistan Army attacked at the defense position of Mukti Bahini with 7 speed boats and 2 launches. Their mission was to drive the Mukti Bahini away from the waterway of Rangamati and Mohalchari. Pakistani forces managed to disorient Mukti Bahini by coming closer to them and firing heavily. In the meantime Pakistanis surrounded the freedom fighters and managed to isolate nearly 100 of them. Rouf realized the threat to the entire company. So, he crawled forward to his trench and continuously fired towards the enemies with his automatic machine gun. As a result, Pakistanis dragged their launches back to a safer place and resumed their firing from there. Suddenly a mortar directly hit Rouf and he died immediately. Munshi Abdur Rouf's valiant effort helped his company to survive as his act saved nearly 150 soldiers of the Mukti Bahini on that day.
Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahma
Matiur Rahman or M. Matiur Rahman (February 21, 1945 in Dhaka - August 20, 1971) was a Flight Lieutenant in the Pakistan Air Force when the Liberation War broke out. His date of birth is sometimes given as 29 November 1941. For his attempt to defect from the Pakistan Air Force, he was decorated with the Bir Sreshtho award by Bangladesh which is the highest honor given. The Bangladesh Air Forces Air Base at Jessore is also named after him. He had received his primary education at Dhaka Collegiate School. Next he was admitted into PAF Public School, Sargodha in West Pakistan. After completing his twelfth class course there he entered Pakistan Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on 22 June, 1963 in the 36th GD(P) Course and was posted at Risalpur, West Pakistan. He successfully completed the Jet Conversion Course in Karachi before he was appointed a Jet Pilot in Peshawar. On August 20, 1971 he attempted to hijack a T-33 trainer from Karachi, Pakistan to India in order to defect from the Pakistan Air Force and join the Liberation movement of Bangladesh. The T-33 aircraft was code-named 'Bluebird'. However, Matiur Rahman could not take the plane out of Pakistani territory. The plane crashed in Thatta, 40 kilometres near the Indian border because of the struggle to regain control of the plane by a Pakistani Air Force pilot, Rashid Minhas (a national hero of Pakistan). His body, which was found near the crash site, was buried at the military graveyard at Masroor Air Base. After over 30 years of negotiations, his body was finally returned to Bangladesh on June 24, 2006 for a ceremonial and highly symbolic reburial in 2006. He was buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard, in Mirpur, Dhaka, with full military honours. His original burial in a nondescript grave in Pakistan had been a sore point between Bangladesh and Pakistan for decades. Matiur's widow, Milly, and his two infant daughters were imprisoned for a month by Pakistan Air Force, and were released on September 29, 1971.
Engineroom Artificer Mohammad Ruhul Amin
Ruhul Amin, better known as Shaheed Mohammad Ruhul Amin, was an engineroom artificer in the Bangladesh Navy who was posthumously awarded the nation's highest bravery award for his service during the Liberation War. The Bangladesh Navy warship BNS Shaheed Ruhul Amin is named after him.
Early life:
Bir Shrestho Ruhul Amin was born in 1934 at Bagpanchra village under sonaimuri upazilla of Noakhali district. His father was Mohammad Azhar Patwari and mother was Zulekha Khatun. He was the eldest son of the family. Ruhul Amin finished his primary education from local schools and passed his matriculation from Sunaimuri High School in 1949. Soon afterwards, he joined the Pakistan Navy and went to Karachi for training. He took his training at the Pakistani Naval Base at Manora Island and later finished his professional training from the PNS Karsaz at Karachi. He joined the Pakistan Navy in 1953 as junior mechanical engineer, and was elevated to the post of Junior Commissioned officer in 1965.
Involvement at the Liberation War:
At the start of Bangladesh Liberation War, Amin immediately resigned from Pakistan Navy and left ?PNS Comilla? at Chittagong and came back to his village. He organized local youths and soldiers for the war. At May, he along with 500 others joined at Sector-3 under Major K M Shafiullah. Later he enrolled at ?Polash?, a warship of Bangladesh Navy and at the same time worked as the Squadron leader for both ?Padma? and ?Palash?. On 10 December an accident occurred at the Rupsha river in Khulna. Two of the warships of the Mukti Bahini named "Padma" and "Palash" mistakenly came under fire from the Indian Air Force as it crossed the river Rupsha near the Khulna shipyards. on this day. Earlier that day, Indian Air Force fired at different places of Khunla city. Incidentally one of those bombs had fallen at the warship "Palash". Ruhul Amin was working as an artificer of that ship. After the heavy bombing, the engine room got burned and Ruhul Amin was forced to dive into the water. When he reached the river shore, he got caught by the Razakars who killed him using their bayonets.
Sepoy Mostafa Kamal
Mostofa Kamal, better known as Shaheed Sepoy Mostafa Kamal was a sepoy(A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier) in the Bangladesh Army during the Liberation War.
He was born on 16 December 1947 in Hajipur village of Daulatikhan upazilla under Bhola district. His father, Habibur Rahman was a Havilder.
On 18 April 1971, Mostofa Kamal was killed in a defensive battle against the occupying Pakistan Army in Daruin village of Comilla. His actions inflicted heavy casualties on his enemy troops.
He was awarded the highest recognition of bravery of the Bangladesh Army, Bir Sreshtho.
Early life
Mostafa Kamal was born in 1947 at the Poshchim Hajipur village under Daulatkhana upazilla in Bhola district. His father was a Habildar in the army. Kamal had his education only up to second grade and spent most of childhood with his father at the Comilla Cantonment. On 16 December 1967, Kamal escaped from his house and joined the East Bengal Regiment. Mostafa Kamal was a well known boxer. During the mid March in 1971, he was transferred from Comilla Cantonment to the headquarter of the 4th East Bengal Regiment at Brahmanbaria. As the Bangladesh Liberation War started in 1971, East Bengal Regiment had taken the control of Brahmanbaria with three Defense bases at Aashuganj, Ujanishwar and Anderson lake. But Pakistani army continued attacking with their heavy artillery in these places. As a result, East Bengal Regiment retreated back to Aakhaura, Shangi Nagar and Daruin. 2nd Platoon was sent to Daruin to reinforce the troops. Mostafa Kamal was a soldier of this platoon. Major Shafayat Jamil verbally declared him as the Lance Naek and gave him the responsibility of leading a team. He died at Daruin on 18 April 1971 during a battle against the Pakistan Army. He was buried at Daruin. He was posthumously rewarded as Bir Shrestho, the highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. A postage stamp was also published to pay respect to him.
Battle of Daruin
Mostafa Kamal was a Sepoy of the 4th East Bengal Regiment. At the start of March, 4th Regiment was moved from Moynamati Cantonment to Brahmanbaria. After the incidents of 25 March, 4th Regiment successfully brought Brahmanbaria under control. Under the leadership of Major Shafayat Jamil, they revolted against the Pakistani officers and formed a Defense Camp at Brahmanbaria. 4th Regiment continued their battle against the Pakistan Army and eventually arrived at Aakhaura. At Aakhaura, the 4th Regiment set their camp in Gangashagar and Talshahar. To avoid any unexpected attacked from the Pakistanis, 2nd Platoon of the company "Alpha" was sent to Daruin village. Mostafa Kamal was one of the section commanders of 2nd Platoon. On 16 April, Pakistan Army started to approach towards the Regiment camp. They were coming over the railway of the Comilla-Aakhaura root. Regiment also reconciled their position at Daruin. They settled on their trenches near a pond. Mostafa Kamal took the rightmost position. On 17 April, Pakistanis opened fire. Major Shafayat Jamil strengthened his force by sending the 11th Platoon of company Delta to Daruin. At around 12 PM the Pakistanis attacked from West. Another part of the Pakistan Army attacked Mukti Bahini from behind. As a result, Regiment had decided to retreat from Daruin. Mostafa Kamal took the responsibly to cover for his fellow fighters. Most of the fighters retreated to a safer position as Kamal relentlessly kept firing with his Light Machine Gun. He managed to neutralize(kill) 8 Pakistani soldiers. But at one stage, he got shot. He along with 20 to 40 other soldiers died at this battle.
Sepoy Hamidur Rahman
Hamidur Rahman (2 February 1953 - 28 October 1971), better known as Shaheed Sepoy Hamidur Rahman, was a Sepoy in Bangladesh Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Hamidur Rahman was killed on October 28, 1971 at Dhalai, Sylhet during an attempt to capture the Pakistani Army's position. The advancing Mukti Bahini column finally captured the Dhalai Border Outpost due in large part to his efforts. He was posthumously awarded the Bir Sreshtho, the highest recognition of bravery of Bangladesh.
Early life
Hamidur Rahman was born on 2 February 1953 in Khardo Khalishpur village under Moheshpur police station of the Jhenaidah district, and was the eldest son of his family. During the Partition of India in 1947, his paternal properties fell in India. They crossed over the border and settled in the bordering area of Khorda Khalishpur of Jhenaidah district. He joined East Bengal Regiment on 2 February 1971 and participated in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. During the war he made a significant contribution in capturing the Dhalai Border Outpost at Srimangal. Though the independence fighters came very close to the Border Outpost, it became very difficult to capture owing to the enemy machine gun which was continuously firing from the south-western corner of the Dhalai Border Outpost. On 28 October 1971, a battle was taking place between 1st East Bengal Regiment and 30 A Frontier Force Regiment in Dhalai of Sylhet. 125 members of the East Bengal Regiment decided to use grenades on the machine gun posts of the Pakistani army. Rahman took the responsibility of throwing grenades, and crawled through the hilly canals. He managed to throw two grenades before he was shot. Hamidur Rahman jumped into the enemy machine gun post and engaged in hand to hand fighting with the two crews who were guarding the gun, and at one point neutralized the gun . Realizing the fact that the machine gun outpost was damaged, the EBR's approach towards the enemy captured their first line within a short period of time. After the capture of the Dhalai Border Outpost, members of the EBR found the dead body of Rahman. Sepoy Hamidur Rahman's efforts helped the East Bengal Regiment take the outpost. He was buried in Tripura in India. On 27 October 2007, advisers of the Bangladeshi caretaker government decided to bring back his remains to Bangladesh and bury him besides Bir Shrestho Matiur Rahman. It is said that the last place he stood alive was about 20 feet away from the Pakistani bunker, either in a canal or where the memorial is (near the bunker). 10 December 2007 the remains of Hamidur Rahman were bought back to Bangladesh and on 11 December 2007 he was buried again at Buddhijibi Koborsthan (Cemetery), Dhaka. For the courage, valour, dedication to the cause of his motherland and supreme sacrifice, he was conferred Bir Sreshtho by the nation of Bangladesh.
Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir
Mohiuddin Jahangir was a Captain in the Bangladesh Army during the 1971 Liberation War. He was born in 1948 in the village of Rahimgonj under Babugonj upazilla of Barisal district. He was an officer in Sector 7 of the Muktibahini. He was killed in an attempt to break through enemy defence on the bank of the Mahananda River. His initiative seriously undermined the Pakistani Army's resistance in the area but eventually mukti bahini overcame to win the position from Pakistan army. The main gate of Dhaka Cantonment- "Shaheed Jahangir Gate" is named in his honour. He was awarded the highest recognition of bravery in the Bangladesh Army, Bir Sreshtho for his supreme sacrifice to the nation.
Early life
Mohiuddin Jahangir was born on 8 March 1949 at Rahimganj village under Babuganj upazila in Barisal district. He accomplished his primary education from the primary school of thana Muladi. He achieved scholarship in talent pool in his 5th and 8th grade. He passed his SSC examination from Muladi Mahbudjan High School in 1964. He finished his HSC from the Barisal BM College. In 1967, he got enrolled at the department of Statistics at the University of Dhaka. On 5 October 1967, he joined the armed forces as a cadet at the Pakistan Military Academy. After successfully completing his training with the 15th war course, Jahangir was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers. Later he got posted at 173 Engineer's Battalion in Multan. After working with the Battalion for six months, he was shifted to Military College of Engineering in Risalpur. After finishing the 13 month long training, he took the bomb disposal training.
Involvement at the war
In 1971, Mohiuddin Jahangir was working at the construction field at Karakoram. On 10 June, he took a few days leave and went back to Risalpur. One day later, he started towards the Sialkot border to reach India. He managed to cross the border safely and joined the Mukti Bahini at Mehdipur under Maldah district in West Bengal. On 3 July, he became a captain of the sector 7. He was given the responsibility to fight at the Chapai Nawabganj border at Rajshahi district. In December, he was again given the same duty of conquering Chapai Nawabganj. On 14 December, he died after getting hit by an enemy bullet during a battle near Nawabganj. He was buried near Shona Masjid premises and later was posthumously declared as ?Bir Shrestho?.
Death
In December, Mohiuddin Jahangir was made the captain of a team in order to clinch the control of Chapai nawabganj from the Pakistanis. He set his camp at a place called Barghoria at the west of Nawabganj on 10 December. On 13 December, Mohiuddin Jahangir divided his army into three groups in order to attack on different enemy camps at Chapainababganj and Rajshahi. One team led by Lieutenant Rafiq crossed Mohananda and continued to proceed towards Rohonpur-Nachole-Anupura and Nawabganj. The second team crossed the Mahananda River and marched towards the city. At this point Mohiuddin Jahangir failed to establish any advantage over the enemy. So he continued with his team and crossed Mahananda and camped at Rehaichar before Dawn. He intended to destroy one of the light machine gun bunker of the Pakistan Army and crawled towards it. He managed to come closer to the bunker and charged grenade to it. But he was fired from another bunker and as a result, he was immediately shot dead. He was buried to Choto Shona Mosque premises at Mehdipur where most of his activities had taken place during the war. Later he was announced Bir Shrestho.
Bir Sreshtho (The Most Valiant Hero)
The Bir Sreshtho (The Most Valiant Hero) is the highest military award of Bangladesh. It was awarded to seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are considered martyrs (somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce a belief or cause, usually religious.). The other three gallantry awards are named, in decreasing order of importance, Bir Uttom, Bir Bikrom and Bir Protik. All of these awards were introduced immediately after the Liberation War in 1971.
List of sectors in Bangladesh Liberation War
| Sector | Area | Sector Commander |
| 1 | Chittagong District, Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the entire eastern area of the Noakhali District on the banks of the river Muhuri. | Major Ziaur Rahman, later replaced by Major Rafiqul Islam |
| 2 | Districts of Dhaka, Comilla, Faridpur, and part of Noakhali District | Major Khaled Mosharraf, later replaced by Major ATM Haider |
| 3 | Area between Churaman Kathi (near Sreemangal) and Sylhet in the north and Singerbil of Brahmanbaria in the south. | Major KM Shafiullah, later replaced by Major ANM Nuruzzaman. |
| 4 | Area from Habiganj District on the north to Kanaighat Police Station on the south along the 100 mile long border with India. | Major Chittarajan Datta, later replaced by Captain A Rab. |
| 5 | Area from Durgapur to Danki (Tamabil) of Sylhet District and the entire area up to the eastern borders of the district. | Major Mir Shawkat Ali |
| 6 | Rangpur District and part of Dinajpur District | Wing Commander M Khademul Bashar |
| 7 | Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra and part of Dinajpur District. | Major Nazmul Huq, later replaced by Subedar Major A Rab and Kazi Nuruzzaman. |
| 8 | In April 1971, the operational area of the sector comprised the districts of Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and Patuakhali. At the end of May the sector was reconstituted and comprised the districts of Kuhstia, Jessore, Khulna, Satkhira and the northern part of Faridpur district. | Major Abu Osman Chowdhury, later replaced by Major MA Manzur. |
| 9 | Barisal, Patuakhali, and parts of the district of Khulna and Faridpur. | Major M A Jalil later replaced by Major MA Manzur and Major Joynal Abedin. |
| 10 | This sector was constituted with the naval commandos. | Indian commander MN Sumanta. |
| 11 | Mymensingh and Tangail | Major M Abu Taher, later replaced by Squadron Leader Hamidullah. |
