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Untold story of a freedom fighter in Pabna

Published : Wednesday, 26 June, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 115
Naresh Madhu
PABNA, June 25: The life of martyred freedom fighter (FF) Elias Ahmed is heroic.

His trace remained unknown for 50 years to his family members due to lack of information.

He was a valiant member of East Pakistan Rifles (EPR).

In May last, after reading a book, his eldest son Dr Md Shafiqul Alam came to know that his father was martyred.

According to the book Ekattare Santhiar Juddher Etihas (History of Santhia War in 1971), he was martyred on April 19, 1971, in a face to face battle of FFs with Pakistani occupation forces.  

After the independence, he was not found. His family members waited for so many years until getting the book.

The book was authored by late FF Nizam Uddin, commander of Santhia Muktijuddha Command.

A chapter Ekattare Daab Bagan (Later on Shahid Nagar) of the book, carries names of 17 EPR Jawans including the name of Elias Ahmed in the 7th serial; his name is also imprinted on the monument of Bir Bangali.

Elias was born in Gandhinagar Village in Shibganj Upazila of Chapainawabganj District.

He left behind his wife Saleha Begum, three children including his son Agriculturist Dr Md Shafiqul Alam; he is now the Registrar of Bangladesh Open University.

On the terrible day of April 19, Pakistani forces suddenly attacked the Daab Bagan (Coconut Garden) in Santhia Upazila; 17 warriors including Elias Ahmed and about 15 civilians lost their lives in that fighting.

Later on, the area was renamed "Shahid Nagar" (Martyrs Town). All martyrs were buried in three graves side by side in that area.  But it could not be identified in which grave Elias Ahmed was laid down.

A dweller of Shahid Nagar Village Abdul Latif, 75, said, "EPR members had set up bunker in our village; when the battle started, we, the villagers, fled away; after two/three days we returned home and saw dead bodies of EPR members and others; later on, few bodies were buried; martyred EPR members were identified including Elias Ahmed."
Elias Ahmeds family paid tribute to the grave for the first time in June, 2024.

Shafiqul Alam said, "For  50 years, we searched many deeds and documents; now we are happy to know that he was martyred; we arranged Milad Mahfil in the grave area".


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