Have we forgotten Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul?

It was March 27, 1971. The curfew was relaxed for a few hours. Whenever the curfew was lifted, Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul would take his bicycle and first visit Dhaka Medical College, then Palashi Fire Service, the grounds of Dhaka University, Rokeya Hall, and around the British Council—witnessing one corpse after another. He then decided to take revenge for the horrific genocide. That afternoon, he forcefully entered a Bihari's house, took a gun, and formed a small group. He explained to the group, "We need more weapons." During this time, several Biharis' homes were looted for weapons. Using these weapons, he established the first base for the liberation war in Zinzira.(The Fiery Tales of the Liberation War: Habib Emon)

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The songs associated with Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul are numerous, including "Sob Kota Janala Khule Dao Na", "Mago Ar Tomake Ghumparani Masi Hote Debo Na", "Shei Rail Line-er Dhare Metho Pothtar Pare Dariye", "Ektara Lage Na Amar Dootarao Lage Na", "O Majhi Nao Chaira De O Majhi Pal Uraiya De", "Sundor Suborno Tarunya Laboyna Apurbo Ruposhi Rupete Onno", "Ei Desh Amar Sundori Rajkonna", "Ekattorer Ma Jononi, Kothay Tomar Muktisena'r Dol", "Amar Sara Deho Kheyo Go Mati", "Amar Babar Mukhe", "Amar Buker Modhye", "Ami Tomar Duto Chokher Duto Tara Hoye Thakbo". The person behind these songs is none other than Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul. For some reason, his name comes to mind during this fiery month of independence.

Perhaps many have forgotten him. He himself feared this during his lifetime and posted a photo on social media exactly one year before his death. After returning from Kolkata, he posted a photo he had taken at the airport in Dhaka on Facebook. In the caption, he wrote, "Don't forget me that's why I posted a picture to remind you of my face."

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Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul was a young freedom fighter. He fought between life and death. He testified in the case against Golam Azam. On the night of March 9, 2019, his younger brother Miraj Ahmed's body was found near the Kuril Flyover. Since then, Bulbul became very quiet. After his brother's death, he applied to the government for increased security, mentioning that after his testimony, he had received several death threats.

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Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul's life's windows will never open again, but he has opened the windows of the nation for generations. He created one extraordinary song after another. He wrote and shared his creations. He also wrote a book titled "Dhrupodi", which contained many of his lyric poems. He had given me that book with his signed best wishes.

This was in 2010. Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul gave me an interview. He spoke at length at his house in Mogbazar. He told me that he was working on a research-based book on music.

In the interview, Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul said, "I fought under Major Haider in Sector 2. I was 14 and a half years old at that time. We trained in Agartala. I remember, the four of us would go on reconnaissance—Manik, Mahbub, Khoka, and I. We would visit the Pakistani forts along the roads from Comilla to Brahmanbaria. At one point, we were captured by the Pakistanis, and they tried to kill us."

After returning from the Liberation War, Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul regularly sang. Initially, he only sang patriotic songs. Reflecting on that time, he said, "I was a guitarist. Whenever I think of those days of war, the horrific memories and scenes of genocide come to mind. I felt that I should do something for those I had lost. From then on, I only sang patriotic songs for eight years. I didn't sing anything else."

Bulbul Bhai had planned to take me to his village one day. For some reason, he liked me very much. But I never had the chance to go to his village. He had planned to chat with me on the way to his ancestral home. Unfortunately, that trip never happened. On January 22, 2019, this great musician and freedom fighter passed away. I pay my deep respects to him.

Habib Emon: Political analyst and columnist. Presidium Member, Bangladesh Youth Union.