Taher's last letter.
K.M. Maniruzzaman
On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the murder of Colonel
Taher, I am posting an English translation of the last letter
he wrote to his family from inside Dhaka Central Jail a day after
the kangaroo military court sentenced him to death. Taher describes
how the "judges" left the court in great haste like dogs in flight;
Taher was also executed in great haste, only the morning of the fourth
day since the sentence was passed. At the end, I have appended a who's
who of names mentioned in the letter. This is entirely from my memory,
is not complete and may contain mistakes. I would ask alert, informed
readers (Dr. Bilayet Hossain and others) to point out any error I may
have made.
===============
Dacca Central Jail
18th July 1976.
Respected Father, Mother, my dearest Lutfa, Bhaijan, my brothers and
sisters, Yesterday afternoon the tribunal announced its verdict against
us. I have been sentenced to death. Bhaijan and Major Jalil were
sentenced to life imprisonment. All their property will be confiscated.
Anwar, Inu, Rab, and Major Zia[uddin] were given ten years rigorous
imprisonment and a penalty each of ten thousand takas. Saleha and
Rabiul have been given five years rigorous imprisonment and fines of
five thousand takas each. Thirteen others including Dr. Akhlaqur,
Mahmood the journalist, and Manna have been set free. At the very
last moment the tribunal proclaimed my death sentence; and in great
haste they left the court like dogs in flight.
Mahmood suddenly broke into tears. When I tried to comfort him he
said, "I am crying because a Bengali could have the audacity to
pass a sentence on Colonel Taher." Meanwhile, Saleha withdrew to
the restroom and broke down in tears. When I called to her saying,
'I don't ever expect such weakness from you,' she said, 'These are
not tears. This is laughter.' What a wonderful vision of laughter
are the tears of this sister of this sister of mine. I met her first
here in the prison's courtroom. I have such admiration for
her. What nation can produce a sister like her?
Among those convicted there was only a single lament: why had they
not also been sentenced to death? Suddenly there were cries from
all quarters of the jail house. Defiant and ever louder: 'Taher
Bhai! Red Salute! Lal Salam!' Can these high walls hold
back this cry? Will not the echoes of this call reach into the
hearts of the people of my country?
Our lawyers were stunned at the announcement of the verdict. They
came and told me that, although there is no appeal from this
tribunal, they would issue a writ to the Supreme Court. The
entire workings and procedure of the tribunal had been
unconstitutional and illegal. They said that simultaneously they
would issue an appeal to the President. Then I made it clear to
them that no such appeal was to be issued. We had installed
this President and I would not petition for my life from these
traitors.
Everyone wanted to hear me speak a few words. Meanwhile, the prison
authorities were becoming eager to separate us. I said, 'When I am
alone, fear and selfish desire for life attack me from all sides.
But when I am with you, all fear and selfishness leave me. I
become brave and I can see myself with all the strength and courage
of the revolution. An invincible calmness determined to overcome all
obstacles enters into me. We want to sacrifice the isolation of our
separate existences and find our true expression among
the people -- that is what our struggle is for.
They are all leaving, bidding goodbye one by one. Their eyes wet.
We have spent quite a while together. Who knows when we shall meet
again? Saleha will go with me. Bhaijan and Anwar show me a stoic
calmness. But I know them. This is an act for my benefit.
Belal's eyes are strangely luminous -- it is as if they are on
the verge of breaking into tears. Jalil, Rab and Zia firmly embrace
me. It is a bond that binds us to the entire nation.
A bond which no one can break.
They have left. All of them. Saleha and I come out together.
She goes to her cell. As I pass, prisoners and political detainees
peer out with eager eyes from behind the doors and windows of their
docked cells. Matin Sahib, Tipu Biswas and the others raise their
hands in the sign of victory.
I was taken to Cell Number 8. It is the cell assigned to prisoners
who are to be hanged. In the cells adjacent to mine there are
three other victims for the gallows. It is a small
cell. Quite clean. It is all right.
When standing face to face with death, I turn to look back on my
life and find nothing to be ashamed of. I see many events which
unite me irrevocably to our people. Can I have a greater joy or
happiness than this?
Nitu, Jishu, and Mishu ... everyone comes crowding into my memory.
I have not left behind any wealth or property for them, but our
entire nation is there for their future. We have seen thousands of
naked children deprived of love and affection. We wanted
a home for them. Is this dawn too distant for the Bengali
people? No, it is not too far off. The sun is about to rise.
I have given my blood for the creation of this country. And now
I shall give my life. Let this illuminate and infuse new strength
into the souls of our people. What greater reward could there be
for me?
No one can kill me. I live in the midst of the masses. My pulse beats
in their pulse. If I am to be killed, the entire people must also
be killed. What force can do that? None.
This morning's paper just came in. They have published the news of
my death sentence and the sentences of the rest on the front page.
The description of the proceedings that has been published is
entirely false. It has been alleged during the trial and on the
evidence of state witnesses that the Sepoy Revolution of 7th
November occurred under my leadership. This I do not deny. Yet,
the papers do not mention this nor that it was under my orders
that Ziaur Rahman was released. It was we who installed the present
government in its place of authority, only to be betrayed. During
the entire trial there was no reference whatsoever of the Kader
Bahini.
It is my ardent hope that our lawyers Ataur Rahman and Zulmat Ali,
and all others who were present will expose the secret behind this
trial and protest its false propaganda. I do not fear death. Zia
is a traitor and conspirator and has had to take refuge in lies
to discredit me before the people. Tell Ataur Rahman and the
others that it is their moral responsibility to expose the truth --
and if they fail in this duty, history will not forgive them.
My greatest repect, my love, and my everlasting affection be
with you all.
Taher
===========
Lutfa = Lutfa Taher, Taher's wife.
Bhaijan = Abu Yusuf. Taher's elder brother. No longer involved in active
politics.
Maj. Jalil = Maj. Jalil is reputed to have been victimized by the
erstwhile government immediately after liberation for his
protests against the Indian Army carting off weapons
captured from the Pakistani Army. He was made president
of Jatyo Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), when it was formed in 1972,
presumably for his anti-India credentials since he had no
known background as a socialist. After assuming his new
political identity, however, he wrote books on socialism,
but later, during the rule of Ershad, he left JSD and
founded an "Islamic" political movement. Deceased.
Anwar = Dr. Anwar Hossain. One of Taher's younger brothers.
Now a teacher of Dhaka University and genereal secretary
of Taher Sangsad. No longer involved in active politics.
Inu = Hasanul Haq Inu. Currently leader of a faction of JSD
and the Left Democratic Front.
Rab = A.S.M. Abdur Rab. Leader of another faction of JSD. He
was one of four prominet student leaders who initially
shaped the movement for independence. Later, he became
the leader of the "domesticated opposition" in the first
"Parliament" of Ershad. Currently he has the shipping
and ports portfolio as a minister in the government of
"national consensus".
Maj Zia = Ziauddin. Was a leader of JSD's underground armed wing
Ganabahini in the Barisal region. Later joined Ershad's
Jatyio Party. Current political activities unknown. Not
to be confused with either Maj. General Ziaur Rahman,
or the other Maj. Ziauddin who joined the underground
Sarbahara (Proletariate) Party.
Saleha, Rabiul = Can't remember anything about these two co-defendants
in the "trial".
Dr. Akhlaqur = Akhlaqur Rahman, Professor of Economics at Jahangirnagar
University. Used to be an idealogue and conduct study
sessions for JSD. Deceased.
Mahmood = Can't remeber his full name at the moment. Was editor
of a weekly magazine called "The Wave" that was highly
critical of the then government. As far as I know, he
was never involved with JSD. Current whereabouts unknown
to me.
Manna = Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a student leader and former
vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students
University. Was instrumental in the split of JSD to
create Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), accusing
JSD of hobnobbing with Awami League during the movements
against General Zia. ("1980 shal, JSD holo Bakshal").
Has since joined Awami League.
Belal = Waresat Hossain Belal, another younger brother of Taher.
He later fought in Palestine and is currently associated
with Awami League.
Matin Sahib = Abdul Matin, also known as "Bhasha" Matin for his role
in the language movement. Was a leader of the underground
East Pakistan Communist Party. A dedicated, declassed
communist till this day, he has pushed carts, among other
menial jobs, for a living.
Tipu Biswas = One of those many early communists of Bengal who came
from landed families. Led various underground communist
movements before surfacing and merging with Rashed Khan
Menon's Workers' Party. May leave anytime, according
to press reports, due to his dissatisfaction with the
"petite-bourgeois" leadership of the party.
Ataur Rahman = Ataur Rahman Khan (if my memory serves me right), former
Chief Minister of East Pakistan.
Zulmat Ali = Zulmat Ali Khan, Lawyer who had since joined BNP.
--
Manir
email: ma...@okabe.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
url: http://okabe.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/okabelab/manir/manir.html
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"Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of Mankind."
ĞAlbert Einstein
Nalinaksha Bhattacharyya
The letter was very moving. Can someone post a short history of the events
from Mujib's murder to Zia's consolidation of power?
--
Nalinaksha Bhattacharyya