Co-fighter of Birshreshtha sells tea, lives in slum

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Azizur Rahman making tea for customers in his stall.

Our Correspondent
JHENIDAH, Jan 24: Azizur Rahman who also bravely fought alongside Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman during the liberation war, now sells tea to maintain his six-member family living at a slum on a khas land.
Aziz, then working at Jhumjhumpur Ansar camp in the district, joined the liberation war along with Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman and late freedom fighter Afsar Ali when Pakistani army attacked Jessore in early April of 1971.
After a fight with Pakistani army at Kotchandpur, they reached Chowgachha and joined a group of Bangalee soldiers under the leadership of Captain Hafiz (water resources minister during the past BNP rule), he told this correspondent.
Narrating his war experience he said, we attacked Pakistani soldiers at Mashila and captured the camp. After some days, we crossed the border and took shelter at Petrapol in Bangao, India. In early June I was seriously injured in my throat during a fierce fighting on Benapol border and was treated at a Bangaon hospital. After a few days our unit moved to Tura hill in Meghalaya for training.
"Later we fought in different places including Sylhet, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Shaestaganj, Moulavibazar, Habiganj, Atgram and Gouripur. In late November, we attacked Pakistani stronghold of Dhalua on Surma River and defeated the Pakistani troops. During this fight Hamidur Rahman embraced martyrdom on November 28.
"I and my co-fighters carried Hamidur's body and buried the great son of the soil at Ambahsa in Meghalaya in India.
"After December 16, we came to Dhaka and reported to the camp.
"As I was an injured person, I did not get any job. During the 38 years of independence, many people came to me to hear the tale of fighting during the liberation war but nobody cared for my welfare," the elderly freedom fighter said with a heavy heart.
Aziz, now struggling hard to survive with his six-member family including two school going children at Hat Khalishpur under Moheshpur Upazila in the district.