In my memory, the Mass Uprising of 1969

January 24, 1969 is a historic day in the history of our national liberation war. The days of the 1969 mass uprising are the most significant period of my life. In this chapter, under the iron rule of Ayub, the student community of Bengal shook the foundations and created history with the mass uprising on January 24, 1969. Every year, when the month of January returns, the fiery days of the 1969 mass uprising in the national life come alive on the pages of memory. The details of those golden days of life echo in every moment. Many times, I ponder how this became possible!

In 1966-67, I, (Martyr Sergeant Zahurul Haque), became the Vice President of the Student Parliament and in 1967-68, I served as the Vice President of the Dhaka University Student Parliament, also known as DUCSU. The 1960s holds unparalleled significance in the political history of Bangladesh. From this university, the momentous Language Movement of 1948 and 1952, the Education Movement of 1962, the Six-Point Movement of 1966, and the Eleven-Point Movement of 1969 originated.

When Bangabandhu declared the Six-Point Movement, I was the Vice President of Iqbal Hall. The room number for the Vice President of Iqbal Hall was 313. In this room, respected leaders like Mani Bhai, Siraj Bhai, and Rajjak Bhai would often be present. After declaring the Six-Point Movement, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, used to tell us, 'I have taken steps to achieve independence from autonomy.' In other words, he aimed to reach independence through the stages of the Six-Point Movement. Bangabandhu was a visionary leader.

While sitting down to write memories, I recall that on January 4, 1969, the historic Sharbodolio Chhatra Sangram Parishad was formed through the coordination of four student organizations, including DUCSU, consisting of the significant Eleven-Point Movement (in which six points were directly involved). I remember the leaders of the Eleven-Point Movement: The Chhatra League president, the late Abdur Rouf, and the General Secretary Khaled Mohammad Ali; Chhatra Union (Matia Group) president, the late Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, and the General Secretary Samasuddoha; Chhatra Union (Menon Group) president, Mostafa Jamal Haider, and the General Secretary Mahbubullah. Also, the NSFP's segment president, the late Ibrahim Khalil, and the General Secretary Fakhrul Islam Munshee were part of the movement. Each of these student leaders was well-known and prominent.

I serve as the Coordinator and Spokesperson of the Sharbodolio Chhatra Sangram Parishad in my capacity as the Vice President of DUCSU. However, DUCSU GS Nazim Kamran Chowdhury was with me during this time. On January 17, 1969, the first assembly of the Chhatra Sangram Parishad took place at the Bot-tola of the Arts Building at Dhaka University, demanding the Eleven-Point Charter. As the Vice President of DUCSU, I presided over the meeting.

Governor Monaim Khan had imposed Section 144. Students had pledged to violate Section 144. The decision to violate Section 144 was announced, and a procession was organized on the street. The police charged batons against us. Chhatra League President Abdur Rouf was injured. We returned to the campus. On January 18, in protest against police brutality, a demonstration took place, and we announced a strike in educational institutions. A sit-in was organized at Bot-tola. I served as the president. Student strikes were observed in all educational institutions, including Dhaka University. In the morning, after the sit-in at Bot-tola, the crowd swelled, and chants echoed,”Sheikh Mujiber mukti chai, Ayub Khaner patan chai.” '(We demand Sheikh Mujib's release, we demand the downfall of Ayub Khan.') Today's gathering was larger than yesterday. Section 144 was still in effect that day. After violating Section 144, we marched onto the street, where the riot police responded with baton charges and tear gas. We returned to the campus. The next day was Sunday. Dhaka University was closed, but the Engineering University remained open.

A plan was made to initiate a procession on January 19 from the Engineering University and break Section 144. We started the procession, and it was met with police baton charges and tear gas shelling. Today, students do not accept anything. Every student's face was fearless. The procession was even larger than the previous days. The police opened fire. Asadul Haq, a Chhatra League worker from the Engineering University, from Dinajpur, was shot and fell wounded on the road.

Later, during the great Liberation War of 1971, he sacrificed his life. In protest against police torture and bullet showers, a massive gathering was held at Bot-tola on Monday, January 20. On this day, a complete strike with a full shutdown was observed in Dhaka and all educational institutions in the region in support of the Eleven-Point Movement. 20 January 1969 is a milestone in the mass movement. When I was delivering a speech as the president in the Sharbodolio Chhatra Sangram Parishad gathering, people are coming like a stream from mills-factories, offices-courts to the Bottala premises. On that day, I said, 'As long as the conspiracy against the Agartala Case continues and the beloved leader Sheikh Mujib, along with all the political prisoners, is not released, the movement will persist. The autocrat Ayub-Monayem's downfall is inevitable; the student community of Bengal will not return home until then. We declared the violation of Section 144. A crowd of thousands gathered and marched on the street. We were in the middle of the procession. When the procession reached in front of the former Arts Building, now the Medical College, the firing started.

I, Chhatraleague General secretary Khaled Mohammad Ali, and Asaduzzaman (Martyr) were together. The police inspectors targeted us. Bullets hit Asaduzzaman's chest. Asad fell immediately. Asad, held firmly by us, took his last breath on the way towards the Medical College. We could clearly hear the final sigh of a martyr. Death is so close! Asad's body was kept on the medical stairs. The blood-soaked shirt, pierced by bullets, transformed into the flag of the struggle. We touched Asad's blood and solemnly declared, 'Asad, you have departed. You will not return to us. Touching your blood, we pledge that until our demands are met, we will not return to our mothers' laps.' Following that, at the Shaheed Minar Square, amidst mourning crowds, we announced the news of Asad's martyrdom. Holding Asad's blood-soaked shirt high, we addressed the gathering of students and the public, saying, 'We will not let the blood of Asad go in vain.'

On January 21, we announce the funeral procession for Asad in Paltan and a strike program until 12 o'clock. On that day, our strength and existence became bound by the blood of Asad. The mourning procession, starting from the Shaheed Minar, turns into a massive protest, with hundreds of thousands of people expressing their outrage in moments. The mourning procession has already been monitored by the military. When the procession approached the tomb of the 3 leaders, the military personnel on loudspeakers said, 'Don't cross, danger-danger, don't cross!' The mourning procession turns into a protest in anger. The word 'danger' holds no value for the fearless procession, which boldly moved forward. The pre-announced strike program was held on 21 January. People flocked to Paltan Maidan from all directions. There were no microphones, no stages. Standing on the brick plinth, I announced a 3-day program in my speech. On January 22, there was a mourning procession, wearing black badges, and hoisting black flags. On January 22, everyone wore black badges. Except for the cantonment, black flags were seen on houses, vehicles, and offices everywhere. On the evening of January 23, a torch procession and a mourning procession with black flags were taken out. A strike was observed until 2 PM on January 24. The entire Dhaka transformed into a city of torches.

On January 24, a nationwide strike was observed. The same question echoed everywhere, 'When will Sheikh Mujib be freed?' 'When will the Agartala Conspiracy Case be withdrawn?' After the strike, the entire population erupted in a powerful surge. Controlling the people's enthusiasm to maintain democracy became increasingly challenging, and that day was deeply felt as a poignant moment in history. In the crackdown on protests, the armed forces, EPR, and police actively engaged, firing bullets wherever necessary. In that shooting, Motiur, Maqbul, Anwar, Rustam, Milan, Alamgir, Anwara and many more names were added to the list of martyrs. Millions of people descend on the streets of Dhaka. People's pent-up hatred turns into a terrible rage. Angry people set fire to government buildings and government-supported newspapers in a frenzy. 'Daily Pakistan,' 'Morning News,' and 'Poygam' offices are reduced to ashes. Agartala case Chief Justice S Rahman fled the residence in a single garment. The residences of Nawab Hasan Askari, Pakistan National Assembly member NA Lashkar and Khwaja Shahabuddin, who banned Rabindra Sangeet, were set on fire.

We go to Paltan with the body of Matiur Rahman, a tenth-grade student of Dhaka Nobokumar Institution. The funeral was held at Paltan Maidan with the participation of millions of people. After the funeral, the agitated crowd attacks the Governor's House. Without a microphone, I addressed the crowd to calm down. I come to Iqbal Hall ground with Matiur's body. The ground where recently bereaved father of martyr Matiur, Ajhar Ali Mallik, was present. In a tearful state, he said, 'I have no sorrow for my son's departure, but I hope my son's blood does not go in vain.' When I reach Iqbal Hall, a curfew was announced on the radio in Dhaka. In Matiur's pocket, there was a piece of paper with his name and address, and it was written, 'Dear mother, I am going to the protest. If I don't come back, consider that your son has given his life for the freedom of the people of Bengal, for the freedom of Sheikh Mujib. Regards, Matiur Rahman, Class 10, Nabakumar Institution. Father: Aujhar Ali Mallik, National Bank Colony, Motijheel.' During the curfew, we reached National Bank Colony with Matiur's body. We were anticipating the worried cries of his parents, but his mother, wiping her tears with her saree, calmly said, 'My son has gone; there is no sorrow. From today, you are my son. Remember, the blood my son shed, may it not be in vain.'

Remembering those golden days fills our hearts with pride. We have upheld the trust of the people. In the midst of tears, Matiur's mother had said, 'May my son's blood not go in vain.' We haven't let Matiur's blood go in vain. On January 20, through the sacrifice of the martyrs like Shaheed Asad, the movement that was stained with blood became successful. This success led to the unconditional freedom of all detainees, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the attainment of voting rights for adults, achieving a majority in the 1970 elections, and ultimately victory in the great Liberation War of 1971. However, the dress rehearsal for these achievements was the historic mass uprising of 1969, which is written in golden letters in the pages of history and will remain there forever.

Author: Member, Advisory Council, Bangladesh Awami League, and Member of Parliament.