বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (তৃতীয় খণ্ড)/২৬
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| বাংলাদেশ সরকারের স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রীর উত্তরবঙ্গ সফরের রিপোর্ট | বাংলাদেশ সরকার স্বরাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় | ৬-১৫ জুন, ১৯৭১ |
NORTH BENGAL TOUR. REPORT OF HONORABLE
HOME MINISTER JANAB A.H.M. KAMARUZZAMAN: June 6 to 15
The honorable minister went on tour of the districts of Murshidabad, Malda, Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Siliguri and Cooch Behar accompanied by Mr. Prasun Majumdar, representative of Mukti Sahayak Samiti, Mr. Khalek Ahmed, I.G. of Bangladesh. Mr. Abdur Rauf Choudhuri, M.P.A. (Kushtia), for the purpose of setting up proper organisation in each district and visiting different transit training camps, to look into the difficulties of the camps and posting of different M.P.A.s and M.N.A.s in particular jobs.
Murshidabad: 6th.-7th, 15th.
D.M., S.P. and local M.P.A.s and M.N.A.s were interviewed. Visited Shekhpara about 30 miles from Berhampore. Two camps are situated there, at a distance of Vi a mile, strength 88+81 at present. In Surya Sen Bharti Sibir the incharge is Md. Hadi whereas in Titu Mir B.S. Dr. Alauddin, both M.P.A. Sent for higher training 200 recently of which 10 refused on medical grounds were sent back. Accommodation problem scrious, preventing further recruitment. Diet very poor but it was surprising to find there still was no discontent among the boys. Mostly students age 16 to 21. Lack of arms general complaint. Most boys had no shoes & uniforms even during guard of honor.
The political Liason for the district was chosen: Mr. Abdus Salam.
On the way back, on 15.6.71 the Lalgola Operation Camp was visited. Strength 250, mostly EPR, 10 M. 15 A, Commando 31, Explosives 50, sent for training 49. It is a fine camp, with Captain Rashid officiating and Captain Gyasuddin in charge.
The DM, Mr. Ashok Chatterjee informed that the youth camp building will be finished by end of June. Work already progressing fast.
Malda: 7th-8th, 13th.
Met workers and leaders at the Circuit house. Mr. IIafizuddin, M.N.A. is the political Liason. Mehdipur camp under Dr. MynuddinAhmed, M.P.A., Adampur under Mr. (Hasnu) are operation camps. Enayetpur under Dr. Mejbaul Huq, M.P.A. No of trainces poor so the Minister asked them to recruit vigorously so that he could see better results when he visited them on his way back.
A. Hannan Choudhuri, district judge of East Dinajpur is staying in Malda town and doing good work. He wanted to stay where he was in response to the Ministers offer to have him in Calcutta for doing the judicial work of the Government in Calcutta.
On the way back, on 13.6.71 Enayetpur was visited. Strength 110, /3-M, 1-A, 1-EPR and rest student. Trainees sent 111 to date. Accommodation 200 may be raised to 250. DM Swayambhu Dey and BDO very active.
Mehdipur operation unit (161)-80 EPR. 19 Trained S, rest A & M. Accommodation good. Ration from BSF.
Adampur unit started recently is just on the border (42). Other side of border free: Bholahat.
Local Sangram Sahayak Samiti in above two districts cooperative.
Jalpaiguri, 9.6.71
After spending the 8th night in Siliguri the Minister crossed the border into a 100 sq. mile liberated area where the Tentulia camp is situated. C. in Charge: Sirajul Islam. Sub sector commander Captain Nazrul. Strength 292. Few A and M. Rest EPR. For the families of these personnel construction already started in the free zone border. Ration supplied by local BDM. SS. Another camp for 1000 recruits to be constructed on the border Ration will have to be arranged by the Siliguri BDMSSS. Requirements for the EPR camp submitted to us.
From Tentulia on the same day we proceeded to Phulbari where a meeting of the leaders and workers was called. In addition to S. Islam appointment was given to Masraf Hossein, M.N.A. as Liason (Siliguri) and Kamruddin Mukhtar, M.P.A. was asked to assist the Student League leader Rauf in Jalpaiguri.
Since there was controversy about annihilation of some people, thought to be spies, it was ordered that henceforth action will be taken exclusively on the basis of a list prepared by unanimous decision of the M.P.A. & M.N.A. Committee. We proceeded to Jalpaiguri town but rain stopped our movement.
Cooch Bchar, 9.6.71.
Dewanganj camp was visited. About 100 students stay in tents out in the open, nearest construction being Vi a mile, ration is very poor, accommodation situation tight, but the moral of the students is still very high.
On 10.6.71 the Cooch Behar town camp situated in a ill ventilated go down was visited Strength 210 or so. Local Sangram Sahayak Samiti not operating because of non recognition by BDMSSS central office. No help from that source. Living condition subhuman. Ration poor. Space may be enough. Camp in Charge:
One organisation is functioning there named Liberation Council. Political Liason Motiur Rahman. Coochbehar Traders Society is also actively involved. From 8th to 11th our General Secretary Mr. Arun Moitra was also with us.
Next we visited the Sahibganj operating unit, strength 800. Discussed problems with Congress worker of WB, Mr. Rajen Chatterijee. He reported unfair border trade. Also reported was the study of 6 boys forced to leave from the Coochbehar Town Camp to the other side of the border.
In Sahibganj, Major Najesh in Charge, the BSF supplies ration rot 500 only. With this 800 manage with difficulty. Cash money (Rs. 4,000/per week) was promised by the Minister. Major suggested opening of a Bangladesh Bank in such units for the deposition of money of armed forces. They also need a doctor. A compounder already present there should be given appointment. Requirement list was submitted.
10.6.71 night meeting was held at Marwari guddi that is Bangladesh local Karyalaya now. Differences among local parties and different sections of the Bangladesh leaders as well exist. Some local party individuals also met the Minister separately next morning. On 11th night Siliguri night halt.
Dinajpur, 12th-13th.
Islampur which we visited on 12th is a mixed force-student camp. A.M. EPR-110 and S-100. Camp in Charge Fazlul Mia finds his authority questioned by the BSF-EPR clique. He is afraid to stay in the campsite. Trainees complain they have to tend to cows. Kitchen 1/2 mile from camp. Money inflow from across the border reported. But there is provision for the increase in strength upto 500.
Raigunj (Malone) was visited same day, where there are two camps 1 mile apart. Azizur Rahman in charge of both camps whose composition is M 54. EPR 61 and TS 10 for the operation camp, and S 125 for the other one which consists mostly of Hindu College students (60 %) Space short.
On 13.6.71 we visited what may be termed the best camp: Kurmail. Present strength 700. Of these about 400 participated in guard of honor and listened to the Ministers inspiring speech, drenched in heavy rain. Already 1000 have been sent for training. (228+300+400). Trainer EPR. No ration they procured rice from other side. Operations being conducted from here. Rifles 7-8 hundred. Captain explosives trainer. Major trainer. Active work by Prof. Abu Syed, camp in Charge.
Bangalipur is 7 miles from Kurmail. Here we saw 143, 73 having joined (he Kaiganj army camp. Another 89 will return soon. 4 grenades, 16 rifles and 3 stens in stock. Camp in charge: Md. Jalil. They submitted requisition.
A general conclusion may be reached from the experience in visiting these camps. Wherever the force and students have been segregated good results have been observed.
The following, suggestions may be made from the experience of the tour:
(1)The EPR, BSF and the students training camps should be all segregated.
(2) A uniform better ration should be given to the trainees with immediate effect.
(3) The Central office of the BDMSS Samiti should immediately take steps regarding Coochbehar. The situation in that district calls for quick action.
Report on the Existing Transit Training Camps in W.B.
The total number of transit training camps including operating units of East Bengal forces will not be much larger than 40. In most of these the present strength is around 200, though there are some where strength is much less due to lack of accommodation, restriction imposed by availability of ration etc. Including the trainees that have been sent for higher training the number will be larger, in one camp as much as 1700 (Kurmail. Dinajpur). The total number of trainees available at the moment will be thus about 10,000 or so.
From our combined experience (i.e. Prasun Majumdar’s North Bengal report, our and R. Karlekars experience with 24 Prgs., and our trips to Nadia with Aminul Islam) it is evident that no useful training or screening can be done in the existing training camps. In the name of screening the Awami League M.P.A. and M.N.A.s indulge in many vices, fully over the students and if caught at it try to back each other. There has been no formal reporting or the 6 boys expelled from Coochbehar town camp, or the 75 boys expelled from Tollykhola camp in Bangaon sector. The information has been received either accidentally or through local political leaders (Rajen Chatterjee of Congress in the Coochbehar case). In addition there are reports of threats to progressive Awami Leaguers, student leaguers and NAP boys in the camps particularly in Nadia.
The ration is even now slow in improving, as in many instances the extra money provided by the BDMSSS, is deposited to the Camp in charge. They only submit a per head account, in many cases they do not stay in the camp and are difficult to meet so that the acting camp in charge has to make shift arrangements most of the days. When they, their friends or we visit the camps we are greeted with tea and snacks which comes from this money. The necessity of a uniform standardized ration, impartial screening and control on visitors to the camps are essential points.
Most leaders do not wash their dishes when they take food in the camps, they refuse to do any manual work, complain about relief articles and their own health. The boys are not only forced to do all the work in the camps by themselves, they even have to do odd jobs like tending cows brought over from across the border. The lack of the proper Political orientation and explanation of the motivation behind the camping is seriously felt.
There is no realization of the mistakes in the struggle. People who have actively participated in the resistance and felt the mistakes are pot encouraged to freely discuss this. Instances of harm done by strong attachment to a locality or sentimental attachment to places are very commonly heard nevertheless. The need of disregarding such feeling in war effort should be impressed with force. 20 % or more recruitment of Hindus is essential if they are to go back. This means recruitment of Scheduled castes and NAP students since militant Hindus belong to one or the other. This should be given top priority. The BSF and EPR should be segregated from the students everywhere. BSF transfers are advised at many places: a recent Murshidabad transfer did much good. Captain Subhas near Islampur (Thakubari) camp in Dinajpur is another deserving case.