Bring FF's remains from no-man's land

Martyred freedom fighter Prof Abdul Wahab Talukdar's family and local freedom fighters have urged bringing his mortal remains to Bangladesh territory from Indian no-man's land.

The valiant freedom fighter's grave at Indian Kalmati village, opposite to Shingjhar village at Joymonirhat union under Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram, now faces the threat of erosion by the Bagni river. 

Wahab Talukdar received martyrdom around 9:00am on August 7, 1971 in the hand of Pakistani army near Bagni Bridge over the Bagni river in the border village and was laid to rest in the no-man's land.

Abdul Wahab Talukdar, son of Saman Ali Talukdar, was born on January 3, 1943 in Kalmati village under Dinhata thana of Cooch Bihar district of West Bengal of then undivided India, his family sources said.

The family came to live permanently at Shingjhar village in Kurigram sub-division (now district) during communal riot in 1950.

After completing MA in Islamic History and Culture from Rajshahi University in 1964, Wahab Talukdar joined Kurigram College (now Kurigram Government College) as a lecturer in 1965.

When the Pakistani army entered Kurigram in early April, 1971, Wahab with his family went to his village home at Shingjhar. Later he received training for fighting under Sector No 6 and became camp-in-charge of Bamonhat Jubo Shibir on May 1, 1971.

He recruited youths from different areas and gave them basic motivational training before sending them to centres in India for training on fighting.

Around 9:00am on August 7, he was discussing with some freedom fighters near the border beside Bagni Bridge when suddenly a group of Pak army attacked them.

Wahab Talukdar and Farhad Hossen received martyrdom and the other freedom fighters retreated.

Later some locals and freedom fighters recovered Wahab's body and buried him near the Bagni river at no-man's land of Kalmati village in India.

Prof Abdul Wahab Talukdar was a freedom fighter listed in the Mukti Barta and his name was also included in the Freedom Fighters' Welfare Trust signed by the prime minister, said his family members and local freedom fighters.

Kurigram Government College authority has named its hostel Shaheed Abdul Wahab Chhatrabas after the martyred teacher and the government's postal department published a memorial ticket with his photo and name.  

The martyr's elder son Mizanur Rahman Talukdar, 50, said, “We could not pray for my father from near his grave as it is situated in Indian no-man's land. We appeal to the government to relocate the grave to Bangladesh.”

“The mortal remains of Prof Abdul Wahab Talukdar should be brought to Bangladesh territory to honour the martyr,” said freedom fighter Major (retd) Abdus Salam.