Today we celebrate the little warriors whose role in our liberation war was not little!
Story of Mohommad Imran:
December 1971. Around two hundred of the freedom fighters that helped liberate Madaripur were attending a parade.
Journalists were taking a tea break near the stadium. Suddenly, a boy of 10 carrying a sub machine gun approached them. He said, "My name is Mohommad Imran. I am student of class 4 in Pangashia School."
That genial boy told them that he was a guerrilla fighter, too; that he had been fighting alongside the freedom fighters for three months. He told them how he had thrown grenades at the enemy bunkers, then retreated to their own camps, crawling with the others.
The Anandabazar newspaper in Calcutta published a report on the freeing of Madaripur, along with a photo of little Imran. (Edition: Poush 23, 1378 Bengali year.)
Story of Abu Salek:
Another lion-heart like Imran was Abu Salek. He was in class 6 in a high school in Brahmanbaria, but then the war started. So he went to Agartala to join the freedom fighters. Although they were reluctant to admit him because of his age, his tenacity convinced them eventually.
Soon enough he showed them what he was worth. In a skirmish in Chandrapur village, the team he was in got in a tight situation. The enemy was in an advantageous position, so the fighters were not able to do much damage. On top of that, soon their own way of retreat was about to be cut off. They needed someone to cover them if they were to go back to safety…
The little Salek took that responsibility! Abu Salek convinced the others to back off as he gave them cover. But he himself did not return even when the others were safely out of harm's way, but continued firing towards the enemy. The Pakistani soldiers were worried to see the nonstop attack, and decided to retreat! The other freedom fighters came back next morning to see Salek alive and well in the camp, with no sign of the enemy nearby.
Story of Shohidul Islam Lalu:
Among many others alike was Lalu, Shohidul Islam Lalu. He joined the war and helped the guerrilla fighters get water and other supplies. Later, he trained at Tura camp in India, and came back to contribute to the freedom of his nation.
One of his many exploits was the infiltration of Gopalpur police station. With three grenades for the three enemy bunkers, he entered the establishment following a distant relative of his who worked for the enemy. Once inside, Lalu observed everything and planned. Then, the moment he got the opportunity, boom went all three bunkers!
Afterwards, the freedom force took over. It was, of course, easier for them after what "little" Lalu had done.
On January 24, 1972, after the country was free, fighters from the Kaderia Bahini (Kader’s Army) were submitting their arms to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at Bindubasini School in Tangail. Lalu also handed his submachine gun to him. Seeing him, the surprised Bangabandhu (Friend of Bengal) patted him on the back and called him a brave boy of Bengal. After hearing about the Gopalpur police station incident, he took the boy in his arms and called him the Impish Hero.
Teenage commander Bahauddin, Bir Uttom Johirul, Monem Khan's executioner Mojammel Haque — there were so many of those heroes who were born during the darkest hours of our nation's history. In a way, the darkest hours were the most glorious ones. From the hot-blooded children to the white-haired old, everyone helped in some way or another to drive off the enemy from our beloved land. The young ones that had not been able to fight directly had supplied food, carried weapons and passed information to the freedom fighters.
It was them, the teenagers and the children, we celebrate today and show our respect to who played such important roles in the liberation of our country.
It is our time now, to be inspired from the courage they have showed forty years ago!
It is, now, our responsibility to ensure that we make them—make ourselves proud of our country, of the Bengali nation.