The heroic contribution of Freedom Fighter (FF) Abdur Razzak, one of the organisers of the great Liberation War of 1971, is still vivid in the memory of other freedom fighters of the Rajshahi region. The freedom fighters recalled the extraordinary bravery and various steps of FF Abdur Razzak to inspire the youths and send them to the battlefield. A Teacher by profession, this Freedom Fighter has also spread light of education and taught manners among public by establishing educational institutions in the area. As a result, his fame has spread beyond the district.
The home of the brave freedom fighter Abdur Razzak is in Talanda village of Tanore upazila in Rajshahi. He was born on November 11, 1944 in Pirojpur village of Chapainawabganj subdivision (now Shibir Hat area of Sundarpur union of Sadar upazila) of the then Maldah district. He is the second of the five children of the Derashatullah Mandal-Sahera Bibi couple. His brother Jalal Uddin is also a brave freedom fighter. Being a teacher, he is well known as 'Razzaq Master'. His FF number is 01810001533 and Lal Muktibarta number is 0302080005.
It is known that in 1966, after completing his student life, Abdur Razzak came to Tanore, Rajshahi to spread the light of education among the backward community. Along with teaching, he started working as a social reformer. His fame spread in the area in a short time. In continuation of his student life, he came to work and dreamed of the liberation of the people of the country, and was deeply involved in every incident - the Six Points of '66, the Mass Uprising of '69, the Elections of '70. A few days after the start of the Liberation War, in the first week of May 1971, he went from Tanore to Rajshahi via Chapainawabganj and went to Sakaripur, Jangipur, Maldah of West Bengal, India, to participate in the war with five to six people from his birthplace Sundarpur area. There, on the advice of the student union leader Santosh Moitra, he returned to the country in Panura with the aim of gathering more freedom fighters. At this stage, he was admitted to the Gaurbagan Youth Camp along with 20-22 people and sent for basic training. During the difficult times at the Gaurbagan camp, he continued to deliver speeches and initial trainings to motivate the youth who were going to participate in the Liberation War.
Reminiscing that time, Abdur Razzak said, "When I went from Tanore to Rajshahi in the first week of May, I met Mr Gani Daroga ( SI of Police). Gani Daroga listed me in number three.
Number one is Matiur Rahman of Mundumala, and there are 17 people in total, including you, in the third place. The same day, I left Rajshahi for Chapainawabganj. There too, I received news that my name had been blacklisted by the then Pakistani rulers. That night, I went to my village home, met my mother, and left for India with 5-6 people, including my younger brother."
Abdur Razzak said, 'I went to India on May 8 or 9. Shamsul Huda, Helal and others went with me, I got up in Lalgola. I went by boat to Joharpur border without food at night, during the day. I got up in Sekaripur at Asr time. The next day I went to Gaurbagan camp. Bachchu was a doctor, Moinuddin, Mujibur and others were there. They wrote down my name slongwith 20-22 other people. They told me, you will be an aAdjutant. About 1,900 youngmen; divided into 3 groups. I delivered the speech for one group, Moinuddin for the other and English Professor Ibrahimo the third. I returned to Maldah again. I gave shelter to those who had fled from Rajshahi and gave food to about 42 people together.
Locals said that Abdur Razzak played a big role in collecting and inspiring the youth of that time and taking them to the Liberation War. One of them is Pradeep Kumar Majumdar, former Headmaster of Talanda A.M. High School. He said, he told me - 'You come; no problem, young boy. After much persuasion, I agreed. He took me to a hall room in Maldah to recruit me and many others. Razzak was there. I understood that he was the organiser. He was collecting boys from various camps, to take them to the Liberation War. He was explaining, providing inspiration for them.'
Brave freedom fighter Kartik Chandra Das said, 'He is my teacher. One day, I saw him come to our refugee camp to get young boys like us to participate in the Liberation War. Initially, about 15 agreed due to Sir's inspiration, but in the end, 5/6 of us participated in the training.'
Abdul Wahab, commander of the Sundarpur Union Muktijoddha Sangsad in Chapainawabganj Sadar, said, "His birthplace is here. He went to fight in the Liberation War from here. I have been serving as the Union Commander for 30 years, and I did it for 15 years earlier. He (Razzaq Master) is our senior. He fought in '71. There are three people in the area where the freedom fighters go. One is Razzaq Master, one is Munsur Doctor and one is Shamsul. I went home with only seven Taka and even that was lost on the way. All the expenses of taking us to India were carried by them."
Heroic freedom fighter Jalal Uddin said, 'Razzaq Master played an important role in the Liberation War. He is a successful organiser. He helped about 30 people from our area, including me, participate in the Liberation War and achieve independence for the country and taught them there.' Heroic freedom fighter Helal Uddin said, 'Razzaq Master took me to India with him and helped me participate in the war. He is a good organiser.'
Abdul Wahab, former Commander of the Muktijoddha Sangsad of Tanore Upazila, said, "As an organizer of the liberation war, he sent people to receive trainings. He is a very senior person to me. Razzak Bhai is a respected person, all the people in the area respect him."
Commander of Chapainawabganj District Headquarters Muktijoddha Sangsad, veteran Muktijoddha Khairul Islam said, "I know him by the name Abdur Razzak Master. He is not only a freedom fighter but he is also an organiser. His brother Jalal Uddin is also a freedom fighter. I know that Abdur Razzak Saheb took many people to the Gaur Bagan camp. He went to the Gaur Bagan camp, kept them in order in the camp. He organised them, encouraged and strengthened them. Then he returned to Bangladesh and collected and took people again. In this way, he took the freedom fighters to the Indian camps and arranged training for them."
Khairul Islam further said, ' Abdur Razzak is a heroic freedom fighter. He has contributed a lot to the country. Not only is he a freedom fighter, but he has also explained to the country people about what freedom is, what are the benefits of freedom, and what is our situation. I think he is a great organiser and freedom fighter. He is greatly respected among the people of the region.'
