Abu
Taher (1938–1976) a
communist and a left-leaning radical activist of the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal,
responsible for the Soldiers Mutiny and Uprising and the radical breakout that
occurred in Dhaka, which killed countless officers and men, along with their
spouses on November 7, 1975. He joined the Bangladesh Liberation struggle from
India during mid August with three other fellow officers. 11th Sector Commander
Major Ziaur Rahman appointed him 2nd Sub-Sector Commander of the 11th Sector at
Mahendraganj. On October 10, 1971, Major Zia handed over command of Sector 11
to Taher. Taher lost his leg from a grenade blast on November 2 and flown to
Pune, India, for treatment. On November 21, 1971, Major Taher received a
medical board release from military service. He was temporarily reinstated in
1972 in the Bangladesh Army.
Early life and
education
Colonel. Abu Taher was born in
Badarpur, Assam Province in then British India on 14 November 1938. His family
hailed from Kazla village in Purbadhala of then Bengal Province, today a town
in the Netrokona District of Bangladesh. After completion of higher secondary
school from Sylhet M C College, he joined the Pakistan Army in 1960 as an
officer candidate and received his Commission in 1962.
Military career
In Pakistan Army, Abu Taher joined the
elite Special Service Group (Commando Force) in 1965. Following his training,
he participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 in the Kashmir sector and the
Sialkot sector. For his part, he received a gallantry award from the Government
of Pakistan. After the war, Taher took advanced training on Guerrilla Warfare
at Fort Bragg and Fort Benning in the United States in 1969. He was posted to
the Quetta Staff College, Pakistan in 1970.
Role in Bangladesh
Liberation War
Towards the end of July 1971,
Capt.Taher along with three other Bengali officers Maj. Manzoor and Capt.
Ziauddin defected from the Pakistan Army and crossed over the border near Abbottabad,
West Pakistan, into India. After two weeks under Indian
interrogation and screening he was sent to BDF HQ at 8 Theatre road and then
posted to Sector 11 in the Rangpur District, which comprised Mymensingh
District, Tangail District and parts of the Rangpur District. He was appointed
2nd sub-sector commander at Mahendraganj in August. At departure with Z-Force
towards Sylhet sector on October 10, 1971, Major Ziaur Rahman handed command of
Sector 11 to Major Taher. After 22 days on November 2, 1971, Taher lost his leg
from a grenade blast injury. Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan was appointed
Sector Commander of Sector 11. Taher was flown to Pune, India. On 21 November
Taher received a Medical Board Release. For his valour, he was awarded Bir
Uttam.
Post-liberation
activities
Following his return, Taher was
reinstated into Bangladesh Army. He received a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel
and in June 1972, he was appointed Commanding Officer of 44th Battalion of East
Bengal Regiment at the Comilla Cantonment. However, due to his
left-leaning communist ideas of organising and reforming the Bangladesh Army in
the model of the Chinese army he resigned from the Bangladesh Army and joined
Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (National Socialist Party). As Abu Taher's
ideas of a social revolution with a central communist army grew, a mutiny
rebellion followed on November 3, 1975 among senior officers in the army, which
Taher quickly took advantage of and created a sense of dissent among ranking
Non-Commissioned Officers and regular soldiers. Abu Taher incited
and organised a socialist uprising of the soldiers on 7 November 1975. A number
of military officers were attacked and killed by these soldiers. Zia was forced
to arrest Taher under charges of treason and murder. Taher was arrested on 24
November 1975. He was tried by a military tribunal inside the Dhaka Central
Jail and was sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging on 21 July 1976.
Illegal secret court
martial
On 22nd march 2011 The High Court laid
down a judgement by declaring Taher's court martial illegal and asked the
government to consider him as a martyr.
Abu Taher's Writings
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