Regional Resistance: Pathaan Bahini of Chandpur
During the 1971 Liberation War, dozens of regional forces emerged across Bangladesh. Just as the freedom fighters trained under the sub-sectors and the Bengal Regiment fought valiantly, these regional forces also put up tough resistance against the Pakistan army. In the month of victory, we bring you the stories of some of these heroic forces.
Through a combination of well-executed tactics, bravery on the battlefield, and overall masterful guerrilla warfare, a local resistance group shaped the outcome of the war in the Chandpur region.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The Pathaan Bahini, led by Zahirul Haque Pathaan, a Bangalee subedar in the Pakistan Army, operated across a 1,000-square-mile area spanning 13 upazilas in Chandpur, Cumilla, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur.
While visiting these districts in June of this year, The Daily Star interviewed over 30 Pathaan Bahini freedom fighters.
Initially formed by former personnel and deserters of the Pakistani army, the force eventually grew to over 900 freedom fighters, including members from all walks of life, such as students, youths, and labourers.
The force engaged in over 40 battles against Pakistani forces, displaying immense courage and bravery.
The details of the war and the heroism of the Pathaan Bahini have been recorded in several books, including "Chandpur Zillar Muktijuddher Itihash" by Shahjahan Kabir, Bir Pratik, and "Muktijuddhe Chandpur" by Dr Delwar Hossain Khan, a Pathaan Bahini member.
According to the books, force chief Zahirul was a well-known figure for his role in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, which earned him the "Tamgha-i-Jurat", the fourth highest military award of Pakistan.
FORMATION
In early 1971, Zahirul, serving under the 1st East Bengal Regiment, was stationed at Jessore Cantonment. In February, he was ordered to transfer to Lahore. However, he instead took a two-month leave to go to his village home in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur and assess the country's political situation.
In March, following Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's call for a non-cooperation movement, a war committee was formed in Chandpur.
As per the decision of the committee, a group of 30 young students were recruited for training in the Alipur village of Hajiganj.
In the wake of the March 25 massacre, an emergency meeting of the war committee was convened at Paikpara School in Faridganj on April 8. Zahirul was entrusted with the leadership of the Mukti Bahini in Chandpur district.
COMMAND STRUCTURE
Zahirul initially divided the region surrounding Chandpur into six zones and assigned commanders to each to set up a defensive perimeter.
Naik subedar Ali Akbar Patwari was appointed to oversee Hajiganj, Ramganj, Chatkhil, and parts of Raipur. Naik subedar Zahirul Islam was tasked with Matlab upazila; sergeant Joynal Abedin was responsible for Chandpur Sadar and Haimchar; Naik subedar Abdur Rab was assigned to Faridganj, Ramganj, and parts of Raipur; havildar Sirajul Islam was in charge of Kachua upazila; and Nayeb Subedar Mofiz was responsible for the headquarters and Shahrasti upazila.
Initially, Paikpara School served as both the headquarters and training camp for the force. However, the headquarters was later relocated to Thakurbari in Pani Ali village of Ramganj upazila in Lakshmipur.
The Pathaan Bahini also had an intelligence unit, headed by Zahirul and force director Kalim Ullah Bhuiyan. Born on January 8, 1937, Zahirul Haque Pathaan died on January 27, 2024. Kalim Ullah Bhuiyan died on January 5, 2024. He was born in 1925.
FIRST AMBUSH
According to the book "Chandpur Zillar Muktijuddher Itihash", the force's first engagement of the war took place in the Gazipur union under Chandpur's Haimchar upazila.
On April 27, upon learning that a launch carrying arms and ammunition for the Pakistani army was coming to Faridganj from Chandpur, Zahirul planned an ambush.
Talking about the operation, freedom fighter Lutfar Rahman told The Daily Star, "As soon as the launch entered our ambush position near Gazipur Bazar, we attacked the Pakistani soldiers on board from three directions.
"Several soldiers were killed, and the rest jumped into the river and fled to Dhanua. The launch, damaged by gunfire, sank in the Manikraj river."
The following day, the freedom fighters salvaged the sunken launch, and from inside they recovered a large cache of munitions.
LCOALS JOIN THE FIGHT
The Battle of Khajuria was different from other battles, for it was joined not only by Pathaan fighters but also by local villagers armed with whatever they could find.
According to the book, Bangladesher Swadhinota Juddho - Sector Bhittik Itihash (Sector-2)", on the morning of June 20, two platoons of freedom fighters were positioned at Kamta and Galla to counter the advance of Pakistani forces from Hajiganj and Chandpur. Simultaneously, another platoon was deployed at the WAPDA embankment near Khajuria to resist the Pakistani forces approaching from Ramganj and Noakhali. Another platoon was stationed on the road leading to Sonapur in Noakhali.
At noon, as the freedom fighters at the WAPDA embankment sprung a surprise attack on the advancing Pakistani soldiers, the remaining platoons quickly rushed towards Khajuria. The local villagers also joined the fight alongside the freedom fighters.
Freedom fighter Delwar Hossain said, "As we chased the Pakistani soldiers, we were joined by thousands of villagers from Khajuria Bazar, Rupsa, and Koroitoli, armed with machetes, axes, and other improvised weapons. Fearing for the safety of these civilians, Pathaan Sahib decided to withdraw and pull everyone back to safety.
"As the retreating Pakistani army headed towards Gollak, they were ambushed by the freedom fighters from three sides. The attack resulted in the deaths of eight Pakistani soldiers."
BATTLE OF SHASIALI
Freedom fighter Sirajul Haque said the force used the school grounds in Battala, Nakipur, Kadra, and South Sahebganj as training camps and established positions in Toragarh, Lotra, Ugaria, and Naringpur Bazars.
"Towards the end of the war, due to security concerns, we didn't have a fixed training camp. We would prop up makeshift training camps wherever we sought shelter," said Ajit Saha, another freedom fighter.
Shasiali Madrasa in Faridganj served as one such training camp of the Pathaan Bahini. It was frequently targeted by Pakistani troops, resulting in several battles between the Pathaan Bahini and the Pakistani army. One such significant engagement took place on July 29, known as the Battle of Shasiali.
On July 29, upon receiving intelligence about a Pakistani convoy of 15-16 boats advancing from Faridganj to capture the camp, Pathaan Bahini laid an ambush to intercept the enemy, said Sirajul Haque.
"As the Pakistani soldiers entered the ambush, the freedom fighters opened fire. The surprise attack resulted in the deaths of six Pakistani soldiers, including an officer, and eight policemen, including a sub-inspector from Faridganj Police Station."
The retreating Pakistani army encountered resistance from freedom fighters in several areas, including Shasiali, Kamalpur, and Patwari Bazar, leading to skirmishes, said Ajit Saha.
"Some fleeing Pakistani soldiers hid in a house in Kamalpur. The freedom fighters surrounded the house and engaged in a fierce gun battle with the trapped soldiers. All the Pakistani soldiers were killed in the ensuing firefight, and Farooq, a freedom fighter, was injured."
Other battles fought by Pathaan Bahini include the Battle of Thakur Bazar in Shahrasti in early May; the Battle of Ramchandrapur Kheyaghat in Balakhal, Hajiganj on May 17; the Battle of Naringpur in Shahrasti on July 15; the Battle of Hasnabad in Laksham, Cumilla on August 27-28; the Battle of Suchipara Kheyaghat on September 7; the attack on a Pakistani food convoy in Faridganj; and the Battle of Office Chitoshi on September 29. Additionally, the Pathaan Bahini fought against the Pakistani army on the Meghna River at Mohanpur, Matlab, in the first week of December.
In October, Zahirul Haque Pathaan visited Kolkata, met with Sector 2 Commander Khaled Mosharraf, and provided a detailed report on the activities of his force. Following this meeting, Pathaan was appointed as the commander of the Chandpur-Madhumati sub-sector.
Chandpur was liberated on December 8. Twenty-one days later, on December 29, the Pathaan Bahini surrendered their weapons at Chandpur Technical High School ground.
Translated and edited from Bangla by Subrata Roy.
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