The Bengali nation would remember the supreme sacrifice of school student Sangku Samajhdar, 12, who embraced martyrdom on March 3, 1971 while taking part in a massive protest procession defying curfew in Rangpur city. Speakers said this in a discussion organised at Shaheed Sangku Samajhdar Bidyaniketan premises on Monday afternoon marking the second founding anniversary of the institution established to immortalise the memory of Sangku Samajhdar.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nure Alam Mina attended the discussion followed by a cultural function as the chief guest. Former Head of the Department of Bengali of Rangpur Begum Rokeya Government College and co-founder of the institution Professor Mohammad Shah Alam presided over the event.
Principal of Shaheed Sangku Samajhdar Bidyaniketon Tanya Sultana Sumi delivered a welcome speech recalling the supreme sacrifice of Sangku while taking part in the massive non-cooperation movement procession on March 3, 1971. Deputy Commissioner of Police (City SB) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police Abu Bakar Siddique and founder of Shaheed Sangku Samajhdar Bidyaniketan and Associate Professor of Begum Rokeya University Umar Farooque addressed as special guests.
Moderated by Afifa Israt Chetona, guardians and students of Shaheed Sangku Samajhdar Bidyaniketon participated in the discussion.
Professor Shah Alam said supreme sacrifice of Sangku triggered mass anger among local Bangalees inspiring them in becoming more united to snatch away independence from the clutches of Pakistani occupiers, exploiters and conspirators. He stressed on informing the young generations about the supreme sacrifice of Sangku Samajhder who has glorified the participation of Rangpur people in the War of Liberation in 1971.
Associate Professor Umar Farooque said the whole nation, including people of Rangpur, was very angry as hatred Pakistani President Yahiya Khan cancelled on March 1 the scheduled parliament sitting on March 3 and declared curfew on the day in 1971. “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with huge hatred rejected cancellation of the scheduled parliament session and called a strike on March 2 in Dhaka and March 3 throughout the country,” he said.
On March 3, 1971, thousands of people brought out a mammoth protest procession from Kachari Bazar breaking curfew in Rangpur city. “Sangku participated in the procession when non-Bengali Sarforaz Khan opened gunfire from his house in Alamnagar area injuring Sangku who succumbed on his way to the hospital at 9.30 am,” Farooque added. The chief guest thanked all concerned for taking initiative to preserve the memory of martyr Sangku Samajhder who has made Rangpur people prideful enduringly by laying down his life on March 3, 1971 during the Great War of Liberation.
