Shaheed Lt Samad Bir Uttam in Kurigram

Lt Ashfaqus Samad Bir Uttam

Shaheed Lieutenant (Lt) Abu Moyen Mohammad Ashfaqus Samad Bir Uttam, a freedom fighter of Shahebganj Sub-sector under sector No. 6 during the liberation war’71, embraced martyrdom in a front fighting against Pakistani occupation force at Nageswari upazila of the district in November 20, 1971.

Local unit of Bangladesh Muktijodya Sangshad, local cultural organizations and local education institutions observe the 20^th November as Shaheed Lt. Samad Day every year with befitting manner.

Lt samad was an inhabitant of Golapibag area in Dhaka and about 23-year-youth during the war. He was a one of the first 61 Commissioned Officers of army of the Shadheen Bangla government.

Freedom fighter Harun Ar Rashid Lal, who took part in the fighting with Lt Samad and Executive Director of NGO Solidarity, narrated the following history of being his martyr.

Lt Samad fought against Pakistani forces near Royganj Bridge over Phulkumar River in Royganj union under Nageswari upazila of the district. Pakistani army took place in the south side of the bridge while freedom fighters including Lt Samad took place in the North side.

Pakistani army took position in their bankers at evening on November 19 while the freedom fighters making bankers for fighting.

At first Pakistani army opened firings finding trace of freedom fighters. Then freedom fighters were bound to open fire from the incomplete bankers.

At first, Pakistani army failed them. Later they made strong position, defeated them and freed Royganj area on November 21.

Lt Samad died on the spot at around 12:15 am on November 20; the night was of the Muslim religious festival Eid-ul-Fitar. Freedom fighters could not shift his body in safer place due to heavy fighting on the night.

After fighting, Samad’s body was found at morning on November 22. He received bullet on his head as he could not use helmet on his head.

The body was brought in the nearest Joymonirhaat union under Bhurungamari upazila at around 9:00 am (November 22) and buried him near Joymonirhaat Bazar Mosque. About 50 people including 30 freedom fighters took part in his Namaaj-e Janaja.

After 43 years of the liberation war, Shaheed Lt Samad Bir Uttam has not been evaluated properly yet by the government. People are proud as his body has been laid to rest in the soil of Kurigram.

Local people have set up some institutions using his name. The institutes are: Shaheed Lt Samadnagore Girls’ High School and Shaheed Lt Samadnagore Technical School & College in the Joymonirhaat union and Shaheed Lt Samad Bir Uttam High School in Rangpur Cantonment.