RU to remember martyrdom of 3 teachers today
Rajshahi University (RU) will recall today the sacrifices of three RU teachers who embraced martyrdom during the Liberation War .
On the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals' Day today the university authorities have chalked out elaborate programmes including placing wreaths at graveyards, rally, discussion and Qurankhwani.
Following a series of historic events from 1952, the country achieved its independence in 1971 through supreme sacrifices made by thousands of people. RU had its own share of sacrifices. The university was attacked on the dark night of March 25 by Pakistani army like many different places of the country.
The people on the campus came to the aid of the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police and freedom fighters who were fighting against the Pakistani army. The occupation army killed RU mathematics department teacher Prof Habibur Rahman, sanskrit department teacher Prof Sukhranjan Samaddar and psychology department teacher Prof Mir Abdul Kayum during the Liberation War.
Prof Habibur Rahman, famed for his voice against wrongs, directly took part in protest against the atrocities of Pakistani army in March 1971. He stayed on the campus with his family although most of the residents left the campus when Pak army attacked the area.
He kept regular contact with the Mukti Rahim (freedom fighters) and Bangali members of the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR). On April 15, Pak soldiers led by Brig Aslam and Col Taj picked him up from his house and took him to Jubery Bhaban on the university campus.
The building was used as Pakistan army's 'concentration camp and torture centre'. Prof Habibur Rahman never returned nor was his body found.
Prof Sukhranjan Samaddar gave shelter to a tired EPR soldier at his house for a nigh. Getting the information, Pak army searched the house on April 14.
Failing to find the EPR man, the Pakistan soldiers took Prof Samaddar to Jubery Bhaban. A RU psychology department teacher, who worked as a collaborator of the occupation forces, identified him (Prof Samaddar) as a Hindu.
Later his body was found at a mass grave adjacent to the university near Binodpur Bazar.
On the night to November 25 in 1971, Pak soldiers picked up Prof Mir Abdul Kayum from his father-in-law's house at Goramara in the city with the help of a university staff.
His body with slit throat was found at a mass grave on the bank of Padma river on December 30.
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