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Ahmad Istiak

Ahmad Istiak is a journalist and researcher. He can be reached at ahmadistiak1952@gmail.com

uk_ching

The indigenous hero who turned the tide in Bhurungamari’s liberation

How Ukya Ching Marma earned the Bir Bikram title
16 December 2025, 16:39 PM
16 December 2025, 16:39 PM
kankan

The untold story of the only indigenous woman awarded the Bir Protik title

Kankan Heninchita Bir Protik: A Khasi woman turned fearless spy
16 December 2025, 14:42 PM
16 December 2025, 14:42 PM
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Tales of freedom / From the plains to the hills: The indigenous bravery in Liberation War

November 13, 1971, Bhurungamari, Kurigram. The day before, the Mukti Bahini captured Pateshwari and positioned themselves at Baghbandha under the leadership of EPR Nayek Ukya Ching Marma. Sensing their presence, the Pakistan forces opened heavy fire, but the freedom fighters remained unflinching.
15 December 2025, 18:05 PM
15 December 2025, 18:05 PM
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The art lover who stole The Love Letter for Bangladesh’s freedom

The condition: money must be used for refugees suffering in the war in East Pakistan
15 December 2025, 18:00 PM
15 December 2025, 18:00 PM
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Tales of freedom / The funding network of 1971

On April 17, 1971, in the mango grove of Baidyanathtala at Bhoberpara, an isolated border area in Meherpur, the acting president and cabinet members of the Mujibnagar Government were sworn in, formally establishing the provisional Government of Bangladesh during the Liberation War.
14 December 2025, 18:14 PM
14 December 2025, 18:14 PM
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Tales of freedom / Martyred Intellectuals’ Day: Horrors of Saidpur’s intellectual massacre

Around 10:00pm on March 25, 1971, Dr Zikrul Haque had just sat down to eat when one of his sons suddenly announced that the military had surrounded their house in Nilphamari’s Saidpur. While panic spread through the family, Zikrul remained calm, as though prepared for what was to come.
13 December 2025, 18:23 PM
13 December 2025, 18:23 PM
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Tales of freedom / Kurigram bank, treasury raided to fund war

During the 1971 Liberation War, a series of daring operations unfolded across the country, with civilians and trained freedom fighters jointly conducting raids to secure funds for the resistance.
11 December 2025, 21:17 PM
11 December 2025, 21:17 PM
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Tales of freedom / Guerrillas blow up 85 targets in Chattogram

Chattogram woke before dawn to the roar of fire and shuddering steel -- an electric transformer here, a petrol pump there -- until, within an hour, it became a city of explosions.
10 December 2025, 18:15 PM
10 December 2025, 18:15 PM
 significance of 1952 Language Movement

Dr Muhammad Shahidullah’s role in Language Movement

When the Language Movement started to create a huge stir across the country in 1948, the Government Azizul Haque College and its Principal linguist Dr Muhammad Shahidullah played a crucial role in organising the protests in Bogura for Bangla as a state language.
7 February 2025, 18:46 PM
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Kushtia erupts into protest

Public sentiment in Kushtia began to shift in favour of the Language Movement towards the end of 1951. .Local political leaders, including Advocate Abdul Haque, Syed Altaf Ali, and Dr Abul Kashem, alongside student leaders like Shahida Khatun, played a crucial role in mobilising public opi
6 February 2025, 18:24 PM
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Language Movement in Rangpur

The flames of the Language Movement spread across Rangpur since 1948.
5 February 2025, 18:07 PM
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Language Movement in Tangail

The upsurge of the Language Movement reached Tangail in 1948, with the people and students launching a protest on February 23 over the Pakistan government’s stance against the demand for Bangla as a state language..Muslim League leader Shamsul Haque went to Tangail from Dhaka in the first
4 February 2025, 18:11 PM
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Language Movement in Pabna

During the 1948-1952 Language Movement, the people of Pabna defied the authority’s oppressive measures and fought to recognise their mother tongue.
3 February 2025, 19:12 PM
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The second Shaheed Minar

Jashore’s fight for mother tongue began in February 1948, and during the course of the language movement, it eventually became the home to the second Shaheed Minar after Rajshahi in February 1952.
2 February 2025, 18:07 PM
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Language Movement in Faridpur

Like other parts of the country, the demand for Bangla as a state language was made also in Faridpur, where the Language Movement began in 1948.
1 February 2025, 19:15 PM
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The first Shaheed Minar

February 21, 1952. Rajshahi. The day had been a whirlwind of strikes, protests, and meetings.
31 January 2025, 18:26 PM
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Victory day today: The day a nation cried tears of joy

From the first week of December 1971, freedom was already in the air. Pakistan was losing ground across Bangladesh to the joint forces, composed of the Mukti Bahini and the allied Indian forces. One by one, different regions were being liberated from the occupation forces.
15 December 2024, 18:00 PM
an-indian-red-cross.jpg

Wartime treatment: The heroes who saved lives, silently 

While the armed freedom fighters fought valiantly on the battlefield during the 1971 war, a quieter yet equally crucial battle was being waged on the medical front.
15 December 2024, 18:00 PM
hemanandakathi.jpg

Regional Resistance: Purbo Banglar Jatiya Mukti Bahini

The floating guava markets in the southern districts of Jhalakathi, Barishal and Pirojpur are so picturesque that they have in recent years started drawing tourists, along with the traders.
14 December 2024, 18:21 PM
Palashdanga Jubo Shibir

Regional Resistance: Palashdanga Jubo Shibir of Sirajganj

The remote village of Jangaliagati in Kamarkhanda upazila, Sirajganj, was the birthplace of the Palashdanga Jubo Shibir (Palashdanga Youth Camp) -- a regional force that defied all odds and persevered, significantly contributing to the liberation struggle of 1971.
12 December 2024, 18:00 PM
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Regional Resistance: Aftab Bahini of Kurigram

The Aftab Bahini, led by Aftab Ali, a subedar in the 3rd East Bengal Regiment, was a formidable regional force that operated along the Brahmaputra and Teesta rivers during the 1971 war.
11 December 2024, 18:00 PM
george-jm-das.jpg

Regional Resistance: Shibbari Youth Camp & George Bahini

One of the largest training camps for freedom fighters during the Liberation War was set up in Shibbari of Gangarampur in West Bengal by George JM Das, a retired Bangalee soldier of the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR).
10 December 2024, 19:48 PM
Pathaan Bahini's role in 1971 Liberation War

Regional Resistance: Pathaan Bahini of Chandpur

Ahmad Istiak.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 Cumilla region..The Pathaan Bahini, led by Zahirul Haque Pathaan, a Bangalee subedar in the
8 December 2024, 18:15 PM
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Regional Resistance: Halim Bahini of Manikganj

Through swift mobilisation, strategic brilliance, and devastating attacks against the Pakistani army, the Halim Bahini of Manikganj distinguished itself as one of the most effective regional forces that fought in the Liberation War.
6 December 2024, 18:16 PM
Baten Bahini

Baten Bahini of Tangail

During the Liberation War, two powerful regional forces challenged the Pakistani army in Tangail.
5 December 2024, 18:22 PM
akbar-hossain.jpg

Regional Resistance: Sreepur Bahini of Magura

Akbar Hossain, the chairman of Sreekol union parishad in Magura’s Sreepur upazila, led a force to be reckoned with against the invading Pakistani army during the Liberation War. While officially named Sreepur Bahini, this force was known to locals as Akbar Bahini.
3 December 2024, 18:07 PM
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Regional Resistance: Rafiq Bahini of Bagerhat

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 forces. In the month of victory, we bring you the stories of some of these heroic forces.
2 December 2024, 18:15 PM
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Regional Resistance: Ohidur Bahini of Atrai

In the early days of the 1971 Liberation War, a formidable resistance movement emerged in the Rajshahi region, led by Ohidur Rahman, a prominent figure in the Purba Banglar Communist Party
30 November 2024, 18:09 PM

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