Unsung history of Vutta Andolon, 1967

The living quarters of Captain Zayadi, the secretary of the parliamentary standing committee on Food in 1967. PHOTO: Star

Like other years, the historic day of 'Vutta Andolon', one of the biggest movements in Pabna against the Pakistan government before the liberation war, remained silent. Supply of poisonous flour of maize (Vutta) in Pabna caused mass movement in Pabna on 16 March 1967. This is the first incident of gunfight between mass people and the Pakistani police and their men in the district before liberation war.
The then Pakistan government supplied maize for the people of the district in response to an ongoing food crises across East Pakistan. According to the government order, the then member of national assembly (MNA) Sayed Asgar Hossain, Captain Zayadi also the secretary of the parliamentary standing committee of Food, imported maize from West Pakistan in March, 1967 and distributed flour at the government selected mills.
The flour of the maize was being distributed among the poorest people of the district on March 15. Most of them were disease ridden in a matter of hours. Of them, 17 were admitted in Pabna Sadar upazila health complex in the night of March, 15.
Of the victims, Abdul Gofur Haru and his wife, both day labourers of village Ramchandrapur in Pabna town died on 16 March 1967. Protesting their deaths, people from different areas rushed the district headquarter to stage demonstrations. People from all walks of lives and different political parties except Muslim League (Aiyub) joined the movement.
Agitated people of the district were organized by the late Amzad Hossain (Former MNA), Aminul Islam Badsha and Abdur Rob Boga Miah. Several thousands people moved to besiege the residence of Captain Zayadi, in Roopkotha road protesting the death of the two people and injuring many. The police opened fire on the mob and left over 50 people injured. Agitated people then looted arms shops in the district headquarter to defend the attack of the police.
The daylong gunfight between the mass people turned the district headquarter into a battle field. They attacked the deputy commissioner's vehicle and set fire the residence of the MNA. Over a hundred people were injured during the clash. Police arrested 265 people including the Captain M Monsur Ali, former minister, Amzad Hossain, former MNA, Aminul Islam Badsha, former NAP leader, among the AL leaders Advocate Amin Uddin, Golam Hasnayen, Abu Taleb, Khandaker and journalist Anwarul Haque. Of the detainees Journalist Anwarul Haque is still alive.
“This was not an organized movement but the people spontaneously joined the movement. This was the first movement against Aiyub's government in the district. Most of the political leaders were arrested to foil the movement but the Vutta movement inspired the people of Pabna for the liberation war movement,” says Anwarul Haque. Haque along with other detainees was released in 1969. Freedom fighter Robiul Islam Robi said most of the heroes of the Vutta Andolon passed away. The young generation is yet to learn about it. "We should remember that the Vutta Andolon led the inspiration for liberation war among the people of Pabna. There are so many programs - but none to recall the Bhutta Andolon,” Robi added.