RANGPUR, March 6, 2022 (BSS) - The historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu had instantly united the Bangalee nation, irrespective of caste, creed and religion to prepare for the ultimate War of Liberation.

 
A gallantry award winner heroic freedom fighter Shawkat Ali Sarker Bir Bikram, now President of Chilmari upazila Awami League and Chairman of Chilmari upazila parishad in Kurigram district, said this to BSS while recalling memories of the War of Liberation.

"The historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu instantly inspired me, like the people from all walks of life, to take part in the War of Liberation in 1971," he said.
 
The Bangalee nation under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was forging the ultimate rock-solid unity in 1971 for the independence to get of rid of injustice, deprivation, exploitation and torture.
 
A young Shawkat passed B. Com. examination in 1969 when the Bangalees were in the unprecedented noncooperation movement against the Pakistani regime.
 
Shawkat, second among nine kids of late Ezab Uddin Sarker and late Shoritan Nesa, of village Dakshin Wari (Haservita) in Chilmari upazila in Kurigram, then was to search for a job.
 
Now 74, Shawkat said the Pakistani army cracked down on innocent Bangalees at night on March 25, 1971 to eliminate the Bangalees through genocide, arson, rape, torture and abuse as per their heinous plans.

"Being inspired by the directions for the War of Liberation given by Bangabandhu in his historic March 7 speech, I left home to protect the honour of our motherland in the beginning of the War of Liberation," he said.

He joined the War of Liberation at the Roumari area separated by the river Brahmaputra from the mainland.
 
Shawkat said one platoon Bangalee soldiers of the 3rd Bengal Regiment in Saidpur cantonment with heavy rocket launchers and light machine guns came to Roumari by river route via Palashbari of Gaibandha.

Freedom fighters Sadakat Hossain Chhakku Mian and Nurul Islam Pappu started conducting training of youths at the occupation-free Roumari under leadership of Subedar Altaf Hossain.

After completing training at Roumari, youths from Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Tangail and Sirajganj started participating in various operations as heroic freedom fighters across the country.

Roumari remained under Sector No. 6 during the War of Liberation as a stronghold for training of freedom fighters.
 
Knowing that Roumari remains as a safe zone for heroic freedom fighters, the Pakistani army came to Chilmari by train on the other side of the Brahmaputra and built a strong base there.
 
Shawkat participated in dozens of battles, including those at Kodalkati, Chilmari, Kamarjani, Tarabar Ghat and Hatia and many guerrilla operations in 1971.
 
"We planned to attack the Pakistani army base at Chilmari on August 1 and created stiff resistance to break up their strong base. But, we had to retreat to Telipara Char," he said.

"Later, the Pakistani army started coming by gunboats to Telipara Char from Bahadurabad Ghat, trying to surround us from two sides. But, they could not survive against our strength," Shawkat said.

Two days later, the Pakistani army crossed the Brahmaputra with the help of their collaborators at Mohanganj and stayed at Bhelabari School camp in Kodalkati area of Rajibpur Thana.

"We took position in a drain next to the Pakistani army camp under the leadership of Subedar Altaf when firing started between the two sides at night and continued for a week," Shawkat remembered.

It was widely known as the 'Kodalkati Battle' when the Pakistani army was forced to retreat after intense firing from freedom fighters and suffering heavy casualties.

"Later, one beggar told us that the Pakistani army carried 200 to 250 bodies during the week-long battle," he said, adding that 21 freedom fighters were martyred in the war.
 
After the successful guerrilla operation, we attacked Sundarganj Thana in Gaibandha and captured huge weapons.
 
Shawkat said the 'Hatia Battle' was a very significant warfare during the War of Liberation.
 
"The battle began at dawn on November 13 in 1971. I led the attacks on the Pakistani army with a 25-member group of freedom fighters. The occupation forces launched counter-attacks," he said.

A number of heroic freedom fighters were martyred in that battle where Shawkat was shot at his leg when the Pakistani army with local collaborators killed 697 innocent Bangalees at Hatia union of nearby Ulipur Thana.
 
"After getting initial treatments at Roumari, I went to India for advanced treatment and returned just before the country became independent," Shawkat said, adding that Bangabandhu's March 7 speech still inspires him in building a developed Sonar Bangla.