‘And he never returned’
During the Liberation War, martyred DIG Mamun Mahmud of Rajshahi police had served as a brave leader and a true patriot. Ever since Bangabandhu's March 7 speech, he started training almost 10,000 volunteers.
On the eve of March 25, 1971, a contingent of the Pakistan Army surrounded Mamun's residence. The Pakistani captain visited his residence the next morning.
"Some of your policemen misbehaved with us at the treasury office," the captain told him.
"My men didn't do anything wrong. You aren't supposed to enter the treasury, it belongs to the police," he replied.
Dissatisfied, the captain left the DIG's residence.
In the evening, when Mamun and his wife were observing their marriage anniversary with family members, Pakistan army's Brig Abdullah called him to Rajshahi cantonment for a talk over the radio.
Mamun left home in the night, leaving behind his wife Mosfeka Mahmud, daughter Jeba Mahmud and son Jabed Mahmud.
"And he never returned," said Jeba Mahmud, while talking about the events that transpired in 1971.
Jeba Mahmud, who is a physician now, was speaking at an event held at Rajshahi Police Lines yesterday.
After 50 years of independence, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) built a museum to preserve the memories of the policemen who sacrificed their lives during the war in Rajshahi.
The event was organised on the occasion of the museum's inauguration.
With RMP commissioner Abu Kalam Siddique in the chair, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan attended it as the chief guest.
Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Senior Secretary Akter Hossain joined as special guests.
Other than DIG Mamun, SP Shah Abdul Mazid and 23 other members of the police force also sacrificed their lives in the war.
Speaking at the event, martyred SP Mazid's daughter Farzana Mazid said her father raised resistance when the Pakistan Army marched towards the police lines on March 28, 1971.
On March 31, the then Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Rashidul Hasan called SP Mazid at his residence. Pakistan army picked him up from the DC's residence.
His family members never saw him again.
Martyred police inspector Azizur Rahman and the then Central Intelligence Bureau's assistant director Khondoker Abu Akter were also killed by the Pakistani occupation forces after the two denied to surrender to the army on April 14, 1971.
Pakistan Army also killed inspector Azizur's father in their village home in Kustia on May 24, 1971.
Azizur's daughter Laila Parvin Banu said the martyrdom of her father and grandfather led her to join the war. She was a nursing instructor at Sajeda Chowdhury-led camp.
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