Ziaur Rahman: We revolted for independence on the night of March 25

Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman said he led the 8th Battalion of the then East Bengal Regiment to revolt against the Pakistan occupation forces as it started military operations to kill innocent Bangladeshi people on the fateful night of March 25, 1971.

"This was the time for the final decision. In no more than a few seconds I said, we revolt," he wrote in an article titled "Birth of a Nation" first published on 26 March, 1972 issue of the Dainik Bangla.

The article was later republished in the Independence Day issue of the Weekly Bichitra in 1974.

This account is referenced in the book "President Zia of Bangladesh: A Political Biography" by journalist and writer Mahfuz Ullah.

In the article, Ziaur Rahman, who was an army major during the Liberation War, recounted his school and cadet life in Pakistan, the volatile situation in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and the events of the Liberation War.

"Since my school days, I was deeply hurt by the attitude of the Pakistanis. I knew they despised us. My friends would often repeat at school what they had heard at home about this hatred," he wrote.

Ziaur Rahman also expressed his long-standing desire to challenge the oppression of Pakistan. "From that time, I carried a single dream deep in my heart—that if I ever got the chance, I would strike at the core of Pakistan's existence. I nurtured this thought with great care and affection," he said.

He highlighted how the Pakistani media, intellectuals, government employees, army, and citizens misrepresented the 1952 Language Movement as a conspiracy against the state.

Recalling the victory of the United Front over the Muslim League in the 1954 elections, he wrote: "At that time, I was a cadet in the second phase. Some Pakistani cadets insulted our national leaders, which led to a heated argument. It became clear that verbal arguments were insufficient to resolve the issue. It was decided that the dispute would be settled in a boxing match."

"I put on the boxing gloves to assert the birthrights of the Bengalis. Representing the Pakistani side, a cadet named Latif stepped forward. Latif vowed to teach me a lesson. But the boxing match lasted no more than 30 seconds. My Pakistani opponent fell to the ground, defeated, and called for peaceful solutions to all disputes," he said.

Ziaur Rahman detailed the significant yet turbulent events leading up to the Liberation War. "Then came the black night—the night of March 25 to March 26. At 1am, my commanding officer ordered me to report to General Ansari at Chittagong Port. I was to go in a naval truck, accompanied by a naval guard, with the option to take three other personnel. A Pakistani officer from my battalion was assigned as my guard," he wrote.

On the way to the port, he was stopped at a barricade in Agrabad. "Major Khalequzzaman arrived with a message from Captain Oli Ahmed. He took me aside and whispered, The Pakistan military has started operations in the cantonment and the town. Many Bengalis have been killed."

It was at this moment that Ziaur Rahman made his resolute decision. Declaring, "We revolt," he instructed his fellow soldiers to arrest the Pakistani officers.

He then personally went to his commanding officer’s house, arrested him, and returned to the battalion.

He said: "When I returned, I found that all the Pakistani officers had been arrested and were being held in a single room. I went to the office and tried to communicate with Lt Col MR Chowdhury and Major Rafique, but my efforts were in vain."

He added: "Later, I contacted the civilian telephone operator and requested him to inform the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, commissioner, deputy inspector general, and Awami League leaders that the 8th Battalion of the East Bengal Regiment had revolted and would fight for the country’s independence." 

Source: BSS