The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Barisal

Birshreshtha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir, one of the seven greatest heroes of the 1971 Liberation War, was remembered here on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of his martyrdom on Friday.

Birshreshtha Shaheed Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Smriti Parishad organised elaborate programmes including discussion on his life and achievements, opening a free medical camp and holding milad mahfil on Babuganj Degree College premises in Babuganj Upazila of Barisal district.

Advocate Abdul Mannan Akand, President of Barisal District Bar Association, presided over the discussion and Mushfiq Ahmed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner of Barisal district, was the chief guest.

Among others, Ratan Ali Sharif, Bir Protik, Barrister Maniruzzaman Asad, Abul Kalam Azad, SM Safiullah, Manzur Rahman Bachchu and members of the martyr's family took part in the discussion. They called upon the people not to vote for anti-liberation elements and friends of autocrats and to elect honest, competent and pro-liberation and pro-people candidates in the upcoming election to be held in the month of victory.

Participants of the programme demanded naming Babuganj Upazila Hospital and Barisal Airport after Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir. They also demanded immediate stoppage of distortion of history of the Great Liberation war and inclusion of real history of independence of the country in the curriculum from primary to the highest level of education.

More than a hundred people were treated at the free medical camp opened on this occasion. Patients were operated upon by Dr Harunur Rashid, Dr Alamgir Hossain, Dr Shahnaj Parvin Shimul, Dr Arafat Hossain and Dr Emdadul Huq Russell.

Mohiuddin Jahangir was born on March 8, 1949 at Rahimganj, about 30 kilometres from Barisal city. Late Moulvi Abdul Kader and Safia Khatun were his parents. He joined the Engineering Corps of Pakistan Army in 1967 and joined the liberation war of Bangladesh on July 3, 1971 as a Commander of freedom fighters of Sector 7 in Chapainawabganj area of Rajshahi. On December 14 early morning, just two days before the final victory, he crossed Mahanada River at Rehairchar of Nawabganj, got engaged in a direct fight with Pakistan occupation army and lost his life receiving bullet injury on forehead. His body was recovered and buried on the premises of Sona Masjid of Chapainawabganj on December 15, 1971 and he was later honoured by Birshreshtha Award, the highest honour for the freedom fighters.

Barisal district council constructed Birshrestha Mohiuddin Jahangir Memorial Museum with a library on a 3,500 square feet building at a cost of Taka 62.90 lakh on 0.30-acre land. It was inaugurated on May 21, 2008 officially naming his native village Rahimganj as Jahangir Nagar after him.

Safiat Khatun, mother of Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir, was honoured as 'Shreshtha Ma' (best mother) by Amardesh Pathak Mela on the occasion of International Mothers Day 2008. Besides, the Doarika Bridge on the Sugandha River on Barisal-Dhaka Highway was named as Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge in 2005.