Abu Taher
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- For the Buyid ruler of Hamadan see Shams al-Daula.
Colonel (retired) Abu Taher (Bangla: আবু তাহের) (1938-1976) was a famous Bangladeshi freedom fighter, a sector commander in Bangladesh Liberation War, and a left-leaning radical activist. For his gallantry in Bangladesh Liberation War, he was awarded the Bir Uttom award.
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[edit] Early life and education
Taher was born in his Badarpur, Assam in British India on 14 November 1938. His family hailed from Kazla village in Purbadhala thana of the Netrokona District (currently in Bangladesh). He graduated from Sylhet M C College in 1959. Then, he studied at the Social Welfare and Research Institute, University of Dhaka, but he dropped out before finishing his Masters in 1960 and joined the Pakistan Army
[edit] Military career
In Pakistan Army, Abu Taher joined the elite Special Service Group of the Commando Force in 1965. Following his training, he fought 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 Brag and Fort Benning in the United States in 1969. He was a colleague of Pervez Musharraf, now the president of Pakistan. He was posted to the Quetta Staff College, Pakistan in 1970.
[edit] Role in Bangladesh Liberation War
Following the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Taher defected from the Pakistan Army to join the war. In July, 1971, he crossed the India-Pakistan border near Abbottabad, West Pakistan, and later went to East Pakistan. Considering his experience, he was appointed as the sector commander of Sector 11 which comprised of the Mymensingh District and part of the Rangpur District. Chilmari Raid and Operation Kamalpur was two of his famous operations.
One month before the end of the war, Taher was seriously wounded during a battle near Kamalpur on 14 November 1971. His left leg had to be amputated. He was taken to India for treatment.
[edit] Post-liberation activities
Following his treatment in India, Taher returned to independent Bangladesh in April, 1972. He was appointed as the Adjutant General of the newly-formed Bangladesh Army. Later, he was appointed as the commander of the 44th Battalion at the Comilla Cantonment. However, his left-leaning ideas of forming the Bangladesh Army in the model of the Chinese army was not accepted by others, and he left Bangladesh Army and joined Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (National Socialist Party) in late 1972. Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975 in a bloody coup, there were a string of coups and counter coups in the army, which created a sense of dissent among common soldiers. Abu Taher organised a socialist uprising of the soldiers on 7 November 1975. Colonel Taher freed Ziaur Rahman and restored him to the post of army chief. Zia proclaimed himself deputy Martial Law Administrator with Chief Justice Sayem being Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) on 7 November 1975. Abu Taher was arrested on 24 November 1975, because of possible fears of revolt. 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. Before his execution, he was visited by his wife and relatives who were in tears. He appeared calm and counseled them not to cry. He refused to wear the black folding that is used to cover the eyes of the victim as he went to his death.
[edit] Colonel Taher's Writings
- Ebotabad Theke Debigar
- Letters for the Freedom Fighters from Taher
- Muktijodhara Abar Joi Hobe
- Sonar Bangla Gorte Hole
