Memories of horror and valour

Towhid was only a three-year-old child when he lost his father Sirajuddin Hossain, a noted journalist. The then Executive Editor of the Daily Ittefaq was picked up and killed by Pakistan army and its collaborators. Towhid narrated the incident before the International Crimes Tribunal quoting his mother Nurjahan Siraji and elder brother Shahin Reza Noor, who narrated the "last journey" of his father many a time.
He said, "On December 10 in 1971, there was a blackout in Dhaka that night. Around 12:30am, some people with their faces covered by masks, caps and towels came to our house and knocked on the door. Some of them entered into my father's room and shouted at him, 'Hands up.�
"They asked my father to show his identity card. When he did, they asked him to go with them. At gunpoint, my mother and brothers, who were following my father, were asked to go inside his room. My father was taken away barefooted and blindfolded," Towhid told the tribunal.
On December 18 in 1971 his relatives went to the Rayerbazar Killing Field to look for the body of Siraj Uddin. "But they could not identify my father's body among all those decomposed bodies."
Journalists Syed Nazmul IIaque, Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Shahidullah Kaiser, ANM Golam Mostafa, Selina Parvin, Prof Gias Uddin Ahmed and Munier Chowdhury were picked up from their houses in the same way.
Khandkcr Abu Talcb was picked up on his way back home from his office. SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai) was killed in brushfire inside the National Press Club in Dhaka on the black night of March 25 in 1971. Shib Sadhan Chakrawarty, a young journalist or the Pakistan Observer was taken to Ramna Temple and was shot dead along with some other people.
Shahid Saber, M Akhtcr, Abul Basar and Chisty Hclalur Rahman were other journalists who were killed as part of the intellectual cleansing mission of the Pakistan Army and Al Badr men.
Veteran journalists Kamal Lohani, who was the General Secretary of the East Pakistan Union or Journalists (EPUJ) recollected the days of 1971.
He said on March 23, the East Pakistan Union of Journalists (EPUJ) took a resolution to boycott news of Pakistan Army. The decision was published in the newspapers on the following day.
I was the General Secretary ofEPUJ at that time. Ali Ashraf of the Daily Pakistan was the President of the organisation.
On March 24 the Public Relation Officer of Tikka Khan came to the National Press, Club in Dhaka and held meetings with the journalist leaders to convince them to change their decision. Journalist leaders KG Mustafa, ABM Musa, Ataus Samad and others were present. However, the journalist leaders declined to change their decision.  On March 25, I and many other journalists met with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The EPUJ had issued identity cards for local and foreign journalists, who were working in Dhaka amidst the non-cooperation movement. Some people had made fake ID's. Bangabandhu suggested me to change my signature on the ID cards, so that none can use any fake ID.
In the evening I went to the office of the Daily Purba Dcsh. I had been working with the newspaper at that time. The newspaper was being published from the Pakistan Observer building. We were getting the information of army's movements. Dr Fazle Rabbi had phoned me at about lO:OOpm.
We had a long discussion. IIe told me that Bangalec youths were putting up barricades different parts of the city to prevent the army from moving in. The phone lines were cut off within minutes of our talks and we had plunged into complete darkness.  Telephone, tele-printers and other communication systems were snapped. We were hearing the rolling of tanks and bang of mortar fire. Two tanks took position in the Dainik Pakistan Square targeting the Observer building.  Our photo journalist, who was very brave, was shooting a photo of the army tanks through windows. As the camera light flushed, army started firing shattering the windows. Panieked journalists and workers of the newspaper rushed to the corners of the building.
I cannot remember every name. But KG Mustafa, ABM Musa, ANM Golam Mostafa and Nazimuddin Manik were with us. After sometimes we went to the roof of the building. The Rajarbag Police Line was burning at that time and we witnessed the flames. My residence was at Rajarbagh. I was worried about the safety of my family and others.
We could not publish the newspaper the following morning. We were hungry and tired, as we could not take meals. The next day ISPR director Siddik Salik came to the office with a leaflet. lIe told us to rewrite and translate it to English and Bangia. Musa bhai had to write the English version while I had to translate it into Bangia. Both of us did it in a way, so that the texts become incomprehensible.
Siddik Salik asked us to print the leaflet from Observer's printing press. We told him that it was not possible. IIe went to Hamidul Huq Chowdhury, the owner. IIamidul Iluq suggested him to talk to Mahbubul Huq. The army then picked up Mahbubul Iluq and brought him to the Observer office. However, it was not possible to print the leaflet from that machine. Mahbub bhai stayed with us in the office since then.  On March 27, the curfew was relaxed for two or three hours. I, along with our photographer, rushed to my residence at Rajarbagh and found it safe and sound. The Police Line was badly damaged. We carried the camera in a shopping bag and went to Dhaka University campus and witnessed the remains of a horrific massacre.  Our intrepid photographer took a few snaps secretly. I'm sorry that I cannot remember his name at the moment. He was very much committed to his job.  Possibly on March 29, Press Liaison officer of Dhaka Cantonment Col Amil called us to the Secretariat. Observer Editor Abdus Salam, Mahbubul Huq and I had to meet him. I Ic asked us to start publishing the newspaper.  I told him that it was not possible as there was no telephone connection or tele-printer service. lie said, "I do not know how you will do it. But you will have to do it." "There is no scope to publish the newspaper, Salam bhai replied.  But the army stuck to his position. We were forced to resume publication of the newspaper from that day. We used old ccllophanes and army press releases. In the first week of April they reconnected the telephone and tele-printer so that we can publish their news and photograph of processions brought out by Muslim League and Nczam-c-Islarni in their support.
On April 17, Akashbani announced the news of oath taking of the Mujibnagar Government. They aired the song, "Akti Mujiborer theke lokkho Mujib .... " We the journalists and workers could not control our emotions and started to chant slogan "Joy Bangia," in presenceof Chowdhuy Mainuddin.
Chowdhury Mainuddin, now convicted for crimes against humanity, was working with the Daily Purba Desh at that time. He was working for the Pakistan Army Junta.  On May 1, Muslim League brought out a huge procession.  Bangalee collaborators led by Muslim League, Jamaat-c-Islami and Nczam-c-Islami started to join different offices to assist Pakistan Army. Mahbub Bhai suggested us to nee, as the Bangalccs have started to spy for Pakistan army.  0, May 7, I took shelter in a village in Srinagar Thana crossing the Buriganga River.  There 1 met with Rumi, Ishaq, Monu, Protap IIazra and few other freedom fighters.  luiz bhai (noted journalist Faiz Ahmed) saw me from the rooftop of a two-story building and called me. I Ie was shot and wounded on March 25 at the Press Club.  T went to Kolkata via Agartala on May 21. On the birthday of Poet Nazrul Islam on May 25, we started transmission of Swadhin Bangia Betar Kendra.