`I’m the first expatriate military mutineer against Pakistan`

Naval Commando Lieutenant (retd) Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah Bir Protik is one of the fearless warriors of Liberation War in 1971.

He was born in a respectable Muslim family in Goraikhali village under Paikgachha upazila in Khulna on April 4, in 1937. Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah Bir Protik was the eldest son of late Alhaz Shahar Ali Gazi and Alhaz Aviron Nessa. His two other brothers Gazi Ayub Ali and Gazi Musa sacrificed their lives in the war of liberation.

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah Bir Protik and his wife Shahana Rahamatullah are now living a happy life with their three sons and a daughter.

After completing primary and secondary school levels he achieved higher school certificate from Khulna BL College in 1956. Later, he obtained graduation degree from naval forces.

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah Dadu Bir Protik joined Pakistan Naval Forces on 26 June in 1956 and went to Turkey in 1968 for special training and from there he went to France in 1969 to get submarine operating training where he stayed till March 1971.

Later, he joined in the liberation war of Bangladesh and achieved the title Bir Protik.

In 1972 he retired from naval forces as a lieutenant. He played an important role in the formation of Bangladesh naval forces.

Naval Commando Lieutenant (retd) Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah Bir Protik is remained involved in various social service activities. Besides, he is holding the post of president of Sector Commanders’ Forum Khulna Division.

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah Bir Protik was awarded numerous awards from national and local level for the recognition of his participation in liberation war.

The awards include reception by Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Naval Commando Association, special reception of Armed Forces Day 2000, Khulna Freedom Fighters Forum Reception and many others.

Recently he joined in an interview of risingbd.com. The key points of the discussion were highlighted below. risingbd.com Staff Correspondent in Khulna Sheikh Yusuf Ali took the interview.  

risingbd.com: How did you join in the Liberation War?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: Thanks, but some related matters should be cleared before answering the question. I joined in the Pakistan Naval Forces in 1956 when the numbers of Bangalees were very few in Pakistan Navy.  In 1968, me and six others Bangalees were sent to Istanbul, the capital of Turkey for special training. From there we were sent to France to join in training on submarine operation. After the training we were scheduled to return Pakistan with a submarine. Meanwhile, we were informed about the total conditions of East Bengal through various media. Movements, brutality of Pakistani, genocide and the speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman were being published in various print and telecast in television channels. And then I decided to join in the liberation war and I started to take preparation mentally. I was senior in my team in France and planned to flee from France by hook or crook though it was a risky and tough task.

risingbd.com: How did you complete the risky task at last?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: “Yes, I am coming to that point. First, it should be mentioned that I was the first Bangladeshi armed expatriates who revolted against the Pakistani government and showed loyalty to Bangladesh. I ran away with my six colleagues from Toulon seaport of France on March 29, 1971. The five others were Badiul Alam Bir Uttam from Rangpur, Mosharraf Hossain Bir Protik from Faridpur, Amin Ullah Sheikh Bir Bikrom from Comilla, Abdur Rahman from Mymensingh who sacrificed his life in liberation war and Shafiqur Rahman Bir Bikrom from Comilla.

First we went to Switzerland but we were stopped as we had no visa. Then we returned again to France and spent the night at a hotel in Paris. Meanwhile, Pakistan government tried to detain us with the help of Pakistan embassy and local police and issued an arrest warrant against us. After so many ups and downs we fled to Barcelona, the capital of Spain. Two days later we went to Madrid and tried to contact with various international embassies but we failed to get any help. At last Indian embassy came forward to help us and Indian embassy Charge the affairs Mr Bedi sought some times to us for the help. Three days later, he came to our hotel and managed a plane for us to go India. But when our flight arrived at Rome, the capital of Italy, Pakistan embassy staffs tried to detain us and cordoned the whole airport. At one stage, our plane returned to Madrid. Later, on April 8, we again entered Rome secretly and with the help of Indian staff we reached New Delhi on April 9 where some high officials and a captain of Navy (Mr. Banarjee) welcomed us. We informed Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi about our naval battle plan through a written letter. Later, we went to Kolkata and then Murshidabad with the green signal of Indian government where we met General Mohammad Ataul Ghani Osmani, commander-in-chief of the Liberation Forces. Then we selected 100 youths to form Naval Commandos. Sector Commander Major Jalil helped us in the task and step by step we trained up 500 youths at Palashi.

risingbd.com: What type of training was given to naval commandos?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: We had so many obstacles during the time. Normally the training includes how to tie mines with bodies, how to swim with tied mines, how to stick the mines with ships and how to return safely after the operation. We set a training camp at bank of Bhagirathi River. Bhagirathi River and Palashi battle field where the last sun of independent Bangla went down. A sprit was working in the heart of freedom fighters those who joined in the operation. Some 140 trained naval commandos entered into Bangladesh in August 1. Besides, around 500 commandos from Khulna, Chandpur, Mongla, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Dhaka conducted drives in the place and changed the speed of war and Pakistani forces became inverted with the several drives. Some 12 commandos were killed in the drives.

risingbd.com: In which sector did you work during the Liberation War?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: Actually naval commandos conducted drives in various river routes and river ports. That’s why they were out of any specific sectors. We worked under the sectors those who were in our operation area.

risingbd.com: What was the remarkable moment during the war?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: There were so many memorable incidents during liberation war. It’s not possible to disclose the feelings after each and every successful operation. We lost two siblings martyr Ayub Ali and martyr Gazi Muhammad Musa who lost their lives in face to face war. These deaths touched me. Some 152 Razakars were hanged after two days and two nights fighting at Kapilmuni in Khulna on December 9. That was also another memorable incident during war. Besides, Operation Jackpot still thrills me. But the most memorable incident was hoisting flag at Khulna Circuit house on December 17 and I hoisted the victory flag. Swimming river I entered Khulna and with the wet body I hoisted the flag and it is not possible to express the feelings.

risingbd.com: What was the feeling after hearing that the country became free?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: Leaving everything I joined in the war for the sake of country. My wife and two children were staying in the country during the war but I had no communication with the family during the war. I lost brothers, relatives, and companions but always thought about country during the war. When we became free, no thought touched me; just the feelings touched me that we are free now. Actually it’s not possible to express the feelings of freedom.

risingbd.com: How young generation can be inspired with the spirit of liberation war?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: I become frustrated when I think about our young generation and liberation war. When we were young we joined in the liberation war with patriotism and freed the country but the new generation of present time remains busy with themselves. They did not see the liberation war that’s why they don’t know what the war was. The spirit does not work in them. Time has changed. The young generation should be inspired. The ongoing trends have to change. They have to know how we got a flag. The real history should be highlighted to them because youths are power. They lead the country.  

risingbd.com: What do you think? Are we able to fulfill the great commitment of the War of Independence?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: We fought for an independent country, for a flag and for a map. We were succeeded but the commitment is not fulfilled yet. We had a dream about hunger and poverty free country which is still a far cry. Freedom fighters don’t get proper estimation and fake freedom fighters became great freedom fighters. The real freedom fighters are starving. Anti liberation people are established now. National flags beautify their vehicles. We did not join the liberation war for this. But the positive side is the trial of war criminals has started. Through the trial we may repay some of the debt of the martyrs.

risingbd.com: What do you think in your leisure time which is still remained unimplemented?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: I had so many dreams some of them became fruitful some of them not. When I returned home from the war I hadn’t anything. Everything was devastated. I had to pass my time in starving like others. Still a large number of people are spending their days without food which touch me so much. After liberation war the base of Bangladesh Naval Force established but it is a matter of sorrow that the general people don’t know me, even the personnel of naval forces of present time don’t know that. I still remember that when Bangabandhu returned home I took money from my father to buy dress for 30 naval commandos and gave guard of honour to Bangabandhu. But naval forces did not recognize me. I have no penance for that because the same things happened to the fate of so many freedom fighters. Leaving the hope of life I fought for the country, left job, rushed to the country for the sake of her but the country did recognize me. I avoid freedom fighter allowance. Why I will take that? I did not fight during war for any allowance. My thoughts attack me during my leisure time for the answer of the questions but no answer comes.

risingbd.com: Any childhood memory which touched you so much?

Gazi Mohammad Rahmatullah: I spent my childhood in Goroikhali village under Paikgachha upazila of Khulna. My father was a politician. We lived with Hindus and Muslims peacefully. I was very restless and fearless. May be it was the cause of joining naval forces. I got admitted Khulna Zilla School in class five from village and my city life from village life was different feelings which thrill me still. Nostalgia touched me in the last phase of my life. Sometimes I feel if I were a child again.

risingbd/Khaulna/December 1, 2014/Sheikh Yusuf/Nasim/Augustin Sujan