Mizbaul Haque, Chakria: Flight Sergeant Zamiruddin Ahmad was serving in the Air Force during the Pakistan Government. Inspired by the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he left government service in 1967 and took part in the Great Liberation War. After leaving the government job, in the light of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s guidance, he first came to Chakaria Upazila of Cox’s Bazar, his motherland, and started working to organize the Awami League. As a part of this, Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmad was responsible for the organization of Greater Chakaria Upazila Awami League from 1967 to 1970. Then on March 7, 1971, through the historic speech of the Father of the Nation, he prepared to take part in the Great War of Liberation. At that time, he served as the chief trainer in the freedom fighter training camp established on the ground of Chakaria Government Pilot High School.
Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmed was born in Madarasapara village of Saharbil Union of Chakria Upazila of Cox’s Bazar. His father’s name is late Amir Hossain. Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmad was the Chairman of Greater Phansiakhali Union Parishad of Chakaria Upazila from 1971 to 1973. Greater Chakaria served as the president of Awami League.
Along with his teammates, he fought in the frontal resistance against the Pakistani soldiers in the Great War of Liberation in Chakaria, Lama, Maheshkhali and Kalurghat areas of Chittagong. Apart from Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmad, his family members participated in the Great Liberation War of 1971 in various ways. Especially his wife Manowar Jahan gave physical, mental and encouragement to Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmad during his training at Muktijoddha Camp at Chakaria Government Pilot High School grounds.
His two brothers Mohammad Jahangir and SM Alamgir participated in the Great War of Liberation like father Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmed. Among them, Chakaria Lama fought with Mohammad Jahangir’s father against Pakistani soldiers in Maheshkhali and Kalughat area of Chittagong. He also provided overall support to the then Chief Journalist SM Sirajul Haque of Chakaria Upazila Jai Bangla Army as an organizer.
And the younger son SM Alamgir participated in the great liberation war in Pahartali, Uttar Pahartali area of Chittagong. After independence, two brothers, Mohammad Jahangir and SM Alamgir, started a family with their families in Chittagong’s North Pahartali area. The freedom fighter family gradually became a place of trust among the common people in Uttar Pahardali area. In 2001 Chittagong City Corporation election, SM Alamgir was elected Commissioner from North Pahartali (Ward No. 9) with huge votes. Besides, from 2005 to 2020, he was in charge of the post of president of North Pahartali (Ward No. 9) Awami League for 15 consecutive years. SM Alamgir, the organizer of the Liberation War, died of Corona in 2020. In the 51 years of independence, the list of brave freedom fighters has grown longer and longer. But Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmad and his family members, one of the accused in the Agartala conspiracy case, are not getting recognition as freedom fighters despite repeated applications.
Mohammad Jahangir, the organizer of the liberation war, said that father Flight Sergeant Zamiruddin Ahmad was working in the Air Force during the Pakistan government.
He was inspired by the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and participated in the War of Independence. He participated in the Education Commission in 1962 and the 6-point movement in 1966. The military government of Pakistan filed the Agartala Conspiracy Case against 1,000 to 1200 freedom-seeking people, making Father of the Nation Bangabandhu the number one accused. Later, at the final stage, 35 people were kept accused. One of the accused in that case was my father Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmad.
SM Alamgir participated in the great liberation war in Pahartali, Uttar Pahartali area of Chittagong. In May 1971, in our village house, Pakistani soldiers through their henchmen carried out unlimited torture. During the war, the members of the invading forces used to torture the women members of the house in various ways. Pakistani soldiers even stopped the collection of drinking water from the tube wells near the houses of the people of the entire village. Pakistani soldiers arrested the father on charges of treason while protesting. Later, he spent about three months in prison in a treason case. He died in 1988.
Mohammad Jahangir said, father Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmad and my family actively participated in the Great Liberation War but never thought about the recognition of freedom fighters even though they had a strong role in the cause of freedom. We wanted Bangladesh to be established as an independent state. We are happy with that. In 2014, I applied online for the first time in the Bangladesh Liberation War Council (JAMUCA) office to get recognition as a freedom fighter in the name of my father and myself. Later in 2017 the name of father Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmed was enrolled in Jamuka’s final list but I was left out. I have appealed to the concerned department. The matter has not yet been settled there. In the meantime, in 2021, upazila-based freedom fighters were randomly selected. The selection was held at Chakaria upazila executive officer’s office on August 23, 24 and 25 last year.
The then Chakria Upazila Executive Officer Syed Samsul Tabriz sent two lists of freedom fighters selected from Chakria to the higher office. Although my father’s name is in the two lists of new proposals sent by 23 people unanimously and 13 people with conflicting opinions, a total of 36 people have not been gazetted.
Chakaria upazila executive officer JP Dewan said, “It is very sad that a person with such talent is not recognized as a freedom fighter who took part in the great liberation war and freed the country from the shackles of subjugation.” He said, ask the family of Flight Sergeant Zamir Ahmed to contact me. I will review the documents that are kept with them in favor of the great liberation war and send them to the higher administration. All possible support will be extended to the family of Flight Sergeant Zamir Uddin Ahmed.
