Disappearance of Manikganj FF still mysterious 43 years after Independence

FE Team | Published: December 31, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

MANIKGANJ, Dec 30 (BSS): The disappearance of valiant Freedom Fighter Shahid Miraj Uddin, a widely popular name in the district, still remains mysterious even after 43 years of the Independence.
Talking to BSS, his family members said Miraj was picked up by an al-badr commander named Major Mostak on December 17, only a day after Bangladesh emerged as an Independent country following the humiliating surrender of the Pakistani occupation army on December 16, 1971.
None of my family, relatives or Miraj's co-fighters know where he has been taken away or whether he is still alive," Siraj Uddin, younger brother of Shahid Miraj, said adding, "my brother's disappearance still remains in dark despite our frantic search for him over the last 43 years."
After the Pakistani army's cowardice crackdown on the night following March 25, 1971, Miraj along with his younger brother Siraj started organizing the youths of his village and neighboring areas to resist the invaders. Later he joined the War of Liberation and participated in frontal battles.
As a token of profound love and respect to Shahid Miraj, the people of the district have named Manikganj stadium after him. Untraced for nearly four and half decades, Miraj is still being fondly remembered by his villagers as well as co-fighters for the courage he showed during the War of Liberation.
Miraj was born on March 11,1948 in the village Vatikandi under Harirampur Upazila of the district. His father Sharif uddin died when he was only 11.
He passed the HSC examination from the then Jagannath College and was admitted in Dhaka University as a resident of Hajee Muhammad Muhsin Hall. From his school days, Miraj had keen interests in sports and games scoring the first position in three events and achieving the personal championship in the National Inter School Sports Competition in 1963. In 1970, Miraj led the march past of the National Games held in Karachi. Dhaka University adjudged him as the best athlete. In the same year, as a student of 2nd year (Hons.) in the Sociology Department, Miraj was elected Sports Secretary of Hajee Muhammad Muhsin Hall as a nominee of Chhatra League. He was also selected for participating in the Munich Olympic in 1972. As a Freedom Fighter, Miraj joined the War of Liberation under Captain Abdul Haleem Chowdhury, took part in operations one after another and encouraged others to fight the Pakistani occupation army.
On November 2, 1971, he got an assignment to blow up the Baniajuri bridge. When he was fitting a dynamite in the bridge at night, the Pakistani army caught Miraj, sent him to the nearby headquarters and subjected him to brutal torture to get information, but they failed.
Later, he was produced on the then Pakistan Television as a criminal and sent to the Dhaka Central Jail. On December 17, 1971, his younger brother Shiraj and others of his family rushed to the central jail but they did not find him there.