Hamidur Rahman

Hamidur Rahman (2 February 1953 – 28 October 1971) was a sepoy in Bangladesh Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Rahman was killed on 28 October 1971 at Dholoi during the Battle of Dhalai, Srimangal during an attempt to capture the Pakistani Army's position. The advancing Indian Army and 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 in Bangladesh.[2] The Dhalai post was eventually captured permanently by 3 companies (215 soldiers) of the Jat Regiment (2 JAT) of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini who defeated a battalion (800 soldiers) of 30th Frontier Force Rifles (30 FFR) of Pakistan Army.[3][4]

See also: Hamidur Rahman (artist)

Hamidur Rahman
Native name
হামিদুর রহমান
Born(1953-02-02)2 February 1953
Khardo Khalishpur, Moheshpur, Jhenaidah, Khulna Division, Bangladesh former East Bengal
Died28 October 1971(1971-10-28) (aged 18)[1]
Dholoi, Srimangal, Bangladesh
AllegianceBangladesh
RankSepoy (No: 3943014)
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Battles/warsBangladesh Liberation War, Sector-4
AwardsBir Sreshtho

Background

Rahman was born on 2 February 1953 in Khardo Khalishpur village (Renamed Hamid Nagar) in Moheshpur thana of the Jhenaidah District. Hamidur Rahman Degree College was named in his honour.[5] He 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.

Liberation war

Rahman joined East Bengal Regiment on 2 February 1971 and participated in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.[6] 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.[7] 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 neutralised the gun.[7] 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.[7] Rahman's efforts helped the East Bengal Regiment take the outpost. He was buried in Tripura in India.

Reburial
Grave

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).[8] 10 December 2007 the remains of Rahman were brought back to Bangladesh and on 11 December 2007 he was buried again at Buddhijibi Koborsthan (Cemetery), Dhaka.[9]

Rahman was posthumously awarded the Bir Sreshtho, Bangladesh's highest award for valor, for his actions.

Legacy

Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman Stadium in Jhenaidah district is named after him.[10] A ferry was named after him.[11] A library and museum was built in his memory and the village he was born in, Khordo Khalishpur has been renamed Hamid Nagar.[12] Hamidur Rahman Degree College was named in his honour.[5]

References
  1. "Birshrestha Hamidur museum opens today". The Daily Star. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  2. Unb. "War heroes honoured". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. Maj Gen Randhir Singh, 2013, A Talent for War: The Military Biography of Lt Gen Sagat Singh.
  4. Battle of Dhalai: The Bangladesh Campaign 1971, Defence Journal.
  5. "Birshreshtha Hamidur's death anniversary today". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. Khan, Muazzam Hussain (2012). "Rahman, Birsrestha Mohammad Hamidur". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  7. "বীর হামিদুরের ঘরে ফেরা". Chutir Dine, Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Mahfuz Anam. 15 December 2007. pp. 4–6.
  8. "বীরশ্রেষ্ঠ হামিদুরের দেহাবশেষ দেশে এনে সমাহিত করা হবে". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Mahfuz Anam. 28 October 2007. p. 20.
  9. "Home they brought warrior dead: Bir Shreshtha Hamidur to be buried at Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard today". The New Nation. 11 December 2007. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  10. "Ershad denies calling any party hated". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  11. "Ferry services go haywire". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  12. "Birshrestha Hamidur museum opens". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
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