Introduction
War as a historical event is mostly told in terms of a binary opposition, the winner and the loser. Considering the dominant narrative and established discursive tradition alone, it becomes difficult to understand the lived experiences of war and the nuances of ideological aberration beyond the binary opposition. Here ideological aberration means life beyond ideological stand; life in such a complex social reality where ideology or beliefs do not function. This ethnographic interview with Habib Member is an account of oral history from a remote area in Barisal that is completely unknown, even to the locals. This interview is an attempt to explore the nuances of lived experience during the war and its socio-political location.
Methodology
Collecting and documenting oral history of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 is the main purpose of the assignment. To explore the nuances and dynamics of such a historical moment, interview is an effective way to collect local stories that are still mostly unknown and undocumented. Therefore, an ethnographic approach has been followed to conduct the interview. Anthropologist James P. Spradley defined an ethnographic interview as a “particular kind of speech event. Every culture has many social occasions identified primarily by the kind of talking that takes place; I refer to these as speech events” (Spradley 1989, 55). Listening to the history of ancestors, localities or particular events in the manner of storytelling and memory sharing are well known in Bengal where an old man narrates the stories to children in most cases. The interview has been conducted in such a manner of storytelling and listening to keep the spontaneity and find out the social location of such stories in the present context. There was no pre-planned and formal questionnaire but the motive behind the interview was clearly explained to the interviewee. The transcript of the interview has been translated and written without any changes in the sequences of the interviewee’s speech and expression.
Ethical Issues and Considerations
To take the interview, the interviewee’s house was visited on the 4th of May 2022 at around 11 am. The interviewee was not at home at that moment. His son[i] said that his father went to the local market, and will be back after a while. The interviewee’s son was not happy about the interview, and indirectly said ‘No’. According to his son, people understand the history of 71’s war from a lens of binary opposition. If all the stories are exposed to the public, people will misinterpret the information and his father will be considered to be a villain. Later the interviewee came and the interview was conducted on the same day. It seems that their consent and comfort have been ignored but later the situation turned into positive responses. They had been given confidence regarding the accuracy of the presentation and interpretation of the interview in public documents.
The interviewee is a 95-year-old man with some major health issues. Most of his teeth have fallen out and that makes his pronunciation difficult to understand. It was beyond the boundary of decency to ask him to repeat and explain in such a situation. The background noise of the audio record made his speech much more difficult to understand in certain cases. While transcribing and translating into English, the sentences and parts of the dialogue that were not possible to understand have been skipped. He also shared a lot of information and memories in the long interview of around 2 hours, but only the relevant parts of the interview have been transcribed and translated in this paper.
Locating the Interviewee
The interviewee, locally known as Habib Member, is a 95-year-old man. Habibur Rahman is his original name, written in documents. He was born on the 5th of January in 1927 in Charadi Union of Bakerganj sub-district, Barisal. Habib Member studied till class eight. In his earlier career, he was an assessor of the Barisal Judge Court for 13 years during the Pakistan period. He was also engaged in a locally led arbitration mechanism (Shalishi) for a long period besides having a successful business career. During the Liberation War in 1971, he was the secretary of the Charadi Union Peace Committee. In post-independent Bangladesh, he served as an elected Ward Member of Charadi Union Council twice (two terms). Since then, he is called Habib Member. Currently, he is retired from everything, struggling with some health issues.
Transcription of the Interview
Before starting the interview, the usual greetings were exchanged and a conversation was held regarding how he is doing now; later whether he remembers the incidents of 1971 and what he thinks about his roles during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Since it was an informal approach to talk to him as everyone does in the locality, I showed my interest to listen to his stories and clarified the purpose of my interest. It seemed that he trusted me and found it worthwhile to share his memories. He spontaneously started sharing his memories. One of my childhood friends who also lives in the same locality as the interviewee, helped me to record and make the conversation more insightful. We took his permission before starting the record. The audio recording seemed more reasonable and accessible.
Habib Member: It was 11 am. There were 7 to 8 people. We came across the primary school; there was no high school at that time.[ii] We saw those three boats approaching through the river bend from a long distance, traceable by colour. We saw the Pakistani flag and realized that the Pakistan Army is coming. Me and Hossain Munshi[iii] who is no more, died, told the people… You can call him Hossain Gazi or Hossain Munshi, Anowar’s father. We told the people that if they dare to stay with us, stay, otherwise leave. After telling them this, everyone left, there was no one in the shops, so they left the market. When they came close to the Bhuttar Haat[iv], we stood at the place beside the current river port.
At that time, there was a mound of soil under a mango tree, later the tree got broken. Hossain Gazi, Noor Hossen Kha[v] and I stood there under the tree. Baro Mia (Noor Hossen Kha) said, we should not stand here, what will we do? I said we will stand behind. They will see people from a long distance, it cannot be determined whether those people are good or bad from that much distance, they might shoot. We were scared of the soldiers. Then we sat on the school playground behind the mango tree. When they reached Bhuttar Haat, we raised our hands. We said Pakistan Zindabad to regain our courage, otherwise what they will think of us? When they came nearby Kandar Bari, they slowed down to observe. They saw we have a Pakistani flag and said Pakistan Zindabad. Then they come here and we three people went to them.
Interviewer: Who are those three people?
Habib Member: Me, Hossain Gazi and Noor Hossen Kha, these three people, no one else
The moment their boat ported, 7 to 8 army officers jumped off the boat. They surrounded from Mofejer Bari to Chokidar Bari and checked whether there is anyone. We sat on the chair on the balcony, balcony of the house of Baro Mia. We were discussing. I could understand Urdu a little bit.
Interviewer: Could you speak Urdu?
Habib Member: I could not speak Urdu but I could make them understand.
After setting, we brought them tea and snacks. One of the officers said, muchi hai (is there any cobbler)? I said hai (yes). He said, le ao (bring him). Alas! I already said yes. Baro Mia said, what did you say? From where will you bring the cobbler now? I said we have to bring Shitanath. If they kill him, we will also get killed. If they kill one person, what is the point of living? We will also die. If we get a chance, we will talk to them, we will negotiate. Shitanath had a brother who lived nearby the Baroghoirra High School and came to escape here. I have brought Shitanath and his brother from Rishi Bari, holding their hand. I’m bringing them but their body is coming with me only, not their soul.
Interviewer: Did they agree to come willingly after asking?
Habib Member: No, I brought them. They did not even dare to run away after asking. Back then, I was the Secretary of the Peace Committee and Baro Mia was President. They had no option other than to come with me.
Interviewer: Had Hossain Gazi any designated role in the committee?
Habib Member: He was a member of the committee. After bringing them (Shitanath and his brother), they sewed the officer’s shoes. The officer offered them two takas after sewing. They would not take the money. I shouted at them and said take it. Later we had a discussion and bought them a goat. In the discussion, they asked us to communicate with them every Friday and said, you will learn where what is and let us know. They had their camp in Barisal Tirish Godown and they lived there. We used to visit their camp. By that time, we had courage and we had nothing to be afraid of. On the other hand, we had a connection with the Freedom Fighters (Mukti Bahini). We told them that there is no freedom fighter in our area. They asked, then where from the bullets came from?
Interviewer: You did not give the freedom fighters’ names to the Pakistan military?
Habib Member: No. No. I said, there is no freedom fighter in my area. There have been shooting incidents many times. Freedom Fighters shot twice at their boat while going through this area. Kandar Bari’s Rashid was a freedom fighter, who is dead now. One of Rashid’s cattle died in the countermeasures. I said they came from outside. The military asked, why did you not catch them? I said we have no weapon. They offered us guns but we said, we do not know how to shoot. We knew all the freedom fighters but we didn’t give their names to the Pakistan Army. We did not want to let any crime happen here. You can find out whether any damages have been committed by the army or not in Charadi Union at that time.
Interviewer: Did Rashid Maker and others join Freedom Fighters at that time? Did you know them all?
Habib Member: Of course, I knew them; Rashid Maker, Shyamol Biswas, Mujammel, I knew them all. Please stop the record for a while… certain things cannot be said.
Interviewer: No problem, you can continue. I won’t write everything you’re saying…
Habib Member: Jafor is the only freedom fighter who killed no one and gave the right direction. He did what was needed to do.
Interviewer: Is he from Garulia[vi]?
Habib Member: Yes, Jafor Shikdar is the son of Ismail Shikdar. He was the only person who was good and worked for the country. He was a member of the party…. (Not recalling). The home minister’s house had been surrounded; he died in the encounter …. (Not remembering exactly). If he was alive, Rahul Amin could not have been a parliament member. He was so good.
So this is the story. We wanted Bangladesh to be independent, but we gave the proxy to survive. We gave the proxy for the survival of ordinary people.
Interviewer: What is your name on the certificate?
Habib Member: I do not have any certificate. I studied till class eight. In written documents, my name is Habibur Rahman.
Interviewer: Where did you study?
Habib Member: I studied at Halta School, many years ago.
Interviewer: Do you remember your date of birth?
Habib Member: Yes I remember, 5th January, 1927. There had been a murder incident here on 5th January 1927. I was also born on the same date. Baro Mia had a document of this case, he showed me later. I got to learn about my accurate date of birth through this document.
Interviewer: Why didn’t you continue your education?
Habib Member: I did so many jobs. I was an Assessor of Judge Court for 13 years. Later I was a GRC dealer. This is a government business dealer, you may not understand. There were two such people in Bakerganj, me from Charadi Union and Nikunjo Shah from Bakerganj.
Interviewer: How does it function, GRC?
Habib Member: It is a government business. I used to do so many types of business. I was involved with social work and arbitration (Shalishi). Now I have left everything.
Interviewer: How old were you in 1971?
Habib Member: It has been around 50 years after the liberation war, so subtract 50 from 95.[vii]
Interviewer: When did you become Ward Member?
Habib Member: I became a Ward Member after the Liberation of Bangladesh. I used to work with the British period’s Union Chairman. I had a good relationship with him; I used to check different documents.
Interviewer: During the War, did any Pakistani military enter the village and commit any loot or damages?
Habib Member: No. No. They had no chance to enter in Charadi Union. No army came here. We did not bring them here. We did not communicate with them. We didn’t tell them any bad news. They did not think there is anyone against Pakistan in Charadi Union.
Interviewer: Did you have any notice or high command for making the Peace Committee?
Habib Member: Union Board asked Chairman to create such a committee. We made the committee and sent them the list. Noor Hossen Kha was the chairman back then.
Interviewer: Did you have any political connection, were you into party politics?
Habib Member: Noor Hossen Kha was Muslim Leaguer. We all were Muslim leaguers. At that time, everyone supported Muslim League. Pakistan has been born in Muslim League. If there were no Pakistan, Bangladesh could not be created.
…
Two boats unknown were going through the canal towards Choramoddi.[viii] The boatman asked Hossain Shikdar on the way, where is the house of Baro Mia? Immediately he informed me and told us to stay careful. The next morning, I came to the market at 8 o’clock. Baro Mia was sitting in the market. By that time, Toshildar (revenue collector) from Choramoddi came to visit Baro Mia. He said Chairman, Choramoddi Toshil’s office (revenue office) has been robbed at night. They took the gun and jumbled the documents. What do I do now? I will go to the Police Station (Thana). Baro Mia said, Go to the Police Station but don’t give anyone’s name. Tell them everything that happened but if they ask whether you suspect someone, do not give any name.
It was possibly Saturday or Tuesday, I was sitting in my shop. Government goods were loaded in the storehouse, the place was crowded. Back then one kg (sher) rice’s price was 50 poisha (0.5 BDT). One person could buy 5 kg of rice. If one family had three members, they could buy 15 kg of rice but no one had that much money to buy. There were crises everywhere. We just opened the storehouse and started distributing the rice from an opened packet. Rajek Merda was there, he used to steer the boat of the Freedom Fighters. He is still alive and also gets the Freedom Fighter Allowance. He used to stay with me if you ask him, you will find out everything that happened. After distributing, I went to buy stuff. While returning, people started rushing and saying; they caught Noor Hossen Kha, they caught Noor Hossain Kha.
Interviewer: Do you remember the date?
Habib Member: 15th August 1971, possibly Saturday or Tuesday.
Hossain Shikdar told me not to go there. They have caught Baro Mia. I said, leave me, what do you mean by they caught Baro Mia? Then he slapped me harshly because I was not listening to him, and I came back to my senses. Hossain Shikdar was one of our party members. When he dared to slap me, I realized it must be serious. Then I went back, and when I reached the north, I heard the sound of shooting twice. They caught Baro Mia and kept him sitting. After that, I went home across the paddy field around 5.30 to 6 in the afternoon. They asked for money from Baro Mia. Baro Mia said I have no cash here, everything is at home. All of his cash was deposited in the bank in Barisal. They went to his home, by the time everyone left and they found nothing. On the way back to the market, they intended to enter our house, Haji Bari. I was observing them while sitting in the paddy field. When I saw them moving this way, I waited in the paddy field and did not go home.
Interviewer: Did you know any of them?
Habib Member: No I did not know them. They were from different areas. If somebody were from our locality, they did not come close. I couldn’t see them.
Interviewer: How many of them were there? How was their dress, civil dress?
Habib Member: Around 7/8, don’t know how many were on the other side. Yes, civil dress. They were dressed in Lungi and tied up (kachha deya), not shirt pants.
Baro Mia had a goat, they took it. The road was broken on the way to enter our house. They did not know of the broken road. So they did not go further after that point and returned to the market. It was around 7/7:30 PM, and they shot Baro Mia twice and left him dead. After that, I went to the market and brought the dead body.
… (Sigh). The next day, we will go to Barisal. One of Baro Mia’s sons-in-law was a police inspector; he came and brought a troller. We took the dead body to Barisal. I did not return home after that. The dead body was brought to Barisal for postmortem.
Interviewer: Did you get to know them later?
Habib Member: They are the ones…
Interviewer: Do you mean Freedom Fighters, the locals?
Habib Member: Yes, Rashid Kha, and others… etc. the locals were with them. Their original leader was an army man. There were around 30 people in their group. All of them were army men except a few from the locality. Everyone was so tall, around 5 feet 6 inches.
I did not come back home. I rented a house in Barisal Kaunia and stayed there with my wife and children.
Interviewer: Was there any hostility between Rashid and Noor Hossain Kha (Baro Mia)?
Habib Member: There was hostility about the union Parishad election and local politics. It was not any national political issue.
Interviewer: Did they have any candidates for chairman?
Habib Member: Sekandar Kha was their candidate. They have done this because of the local issues and hostility; it has nothing to do with politics.
While staying in Barisal, we used to sit at Shahjahan Chowdhury’s house. He was the personal secretary of Ayub Khan (general) during his period. Many other people also used to visit there, and we discussed what to do next.
Interviewer: Shahjahan Chowdhury was also engaged in Peace Committee?
Habib Member: Yes.
I always wanted to communicate with Rashid. Rashid’s brother Afser used to respect me a lot. We did not do anything wrong. Everyone trusted and respected us. I communicated with Afser. He informed me one day. He said Pancham Ali will come here with Rashid, you can come.
Interviewer: Who is Pancham Ali?
Habib Member: Pancham Ali is their leader. He is the leader of Freedom Fighters. Rashid was under his command. Shyamol Biswas, Rashid and many others, used to stay with Pancham Ali.
After informing me, I came back by 3 PM’s launch. I went home across the field. After that, my mother started crying upon seeing me, saying; why did you come here?
After the evening, I went out to meet them. I took Firoz’s father and Barek Mia with me. I told them to come with me, and they did not ask where we are going. I also informed Hossain Gazi and Kader Molla. In total five people started going to meet them at Kandar Bari (Afser’s house). When I went to the current Union Council, I saw a shadow coming from behind. I used to notice frontward and backward while walking at night. I asked, who is this? He said it’s me. I asked, Shyamol? He replied, ‘Yes’. I said you do not need to come. I am going to your place. I understood that he is following me. When we arrived there, I set in Afser’s house, and he went to the Kachari Ghar (kind of guest house). The Kachari Ghar was crowded. Pancham Ali and Habib went to the other side of the river. They caught two thieves called Kashem and Ismail from Maddho Charadi and took them to the other side of the river to shoot them. They were really thieves.
Shyamol went to Kachari Ghar and told them that Habib Dealer has come. Back then I was a dealer. They are like WHAT! They cannot come out of the Kachari Ghar until Pancham Ali comes, without his permission. After five minutes, there were two shooting sounds. Then I felt helpless. It is not a good time. After killing two people, they might be in a short temper. They might not listen to me; rather they might take me and shoot me.
Interviewer: What was the sound of those two shootings?
Habib Member: They had killed those two thieves. After ten minutes, they arrived there. After knowing about my presence, they came to me. Pancham Ali did not come, Habib came. I was sitting on a chair. Hossain Gazi, Barek Mia and Sattar were sitting beside me. He was wearing a lungi, tied up folding, and a t-shirt. There was blood on his T-shirt. …Shot face to face, the blood dropped on him. The rest four people who came with me left the place after seeing his (Habib’s) face. They almost died out of fear. My condition was also the same, but I had to show them courage. If I was meant to, I would die, but I would die fighting. He asked me, what is your name? I said, Habib Dealer. He said, why did you vilify my mother and sister’s name? I replied loudly, How to vilify your mother and sister? I was so scared, almost died but I had to show him power through my tone of voice. He wanted to argue intentionally. He said you have a bad mouth. Then I stood up and slapped on the table, I said, BE CAREFUL (aggressively)! Don’t disrespect me, either shoot me or talk to me properly.
Interviewer: Was he older than you?
Habib Member: No, he was younger than me but how does that matter? He is the powerful one, he has the gun and just came back after killing people. I was almost dead. I was talking out of the strength of my soul. Afser was roaming in the courtyard, looking for Rashid. By the time, Rashid came and he said (loudly), be careful! I know the people in my area better. Then he (Habib) calmed down. After that, we sat together including Pancham Ali and discussed a lot. Then Pancham Ali said, you have to feed us a meal. I said, okay. I will manage your meal, you will eat but I will not be there. I will be in Barisal. He said, why will you be there? I said, then give me my life security, promise me in writing that I’m safe at home. Then he said, how can we do that? I need to stay in Barisal for safety, I said. He said, okay.
Interviewer: Did they want to have only that meal (dinner) or many more later?
Habib Member: No, only that time, one meal… Hossain Gazi was there. I told him to stay there and listen to what they talked about.
Interviewer: How many people were there with Pancham Ali at that time?
Habib Member: Thirty people at that time. I was sitting in the darkness. The other group members were detecting my face while leaving. I told Hossain Gazi to stay with them and let me know what happens because I doubted that they might shoot me on the way. They cannot shoot me here, which might create a bad reputation for that house. I am from the same area and known to them, killing me here might be a problem. After leaving me, they discussed that this person is not bad. All the accusations against him are not true, he is not against us. Everything is village politics. We killed Noor Hossen Kha, which was our mistake.
Interviewer: Did they recognize that killing Noor Hossen Kha was a mistake?
Habib Member: Yes, they recognized after that incident.
Interviewer: After talking to you? How did you know that they have acknowledged their mistake and felt guilty?
Habib Member: I left Hossain Gazi with them, he was there. He listened. After coming from there, I was sitting in a high place on the western side of my house. I told Hossain Gazi to come there and inform me about their motives. I changed my white outfit and tied up my lungi for safety so that no one can notice me. Maybe two or three of them might come with him (Hossain Gazi) to find me. When Hossain Gazi came, I changed my meeting spot many times to ensure that he came alone. After five to ten minutes, I called him, he said where are you? I said, I stayed away to see whether there are other people with you or not. I needed to be careful. Then Hossain Gazi said, after you left, they were remorseful and were discussing that you are not a bad person. Whatever they have made us do was a mistake.
After three days, they had a meal in the mosque in front of my house. They did not enter my house. After that, the country was liberated.
Interviewer: Did you find out later who was behind the killing of Noor Hossain Kha? Did the locals inform them?
Habib Member: They were informed by the locals. It was Saturday or Tuesday, and firstly Freedom Fighters came to Kaloshkathi Bazar. We got the news. Then they came and stayed on the first floor of Shyamol Biswas’ house. From there, they came during bazaar time. Shyamol Biswas and Narayan Biswas had communicated more with them because Baro Mia slapped Narayan Biswas a long time ago. There was a case (police file) even. Manik Mia and Narayan Biswas had a good relationship. Narayan Biswas is the brother of Shyamol Biswas. Manik Mia was Baro Mia’s son. Manik and Narayan were friends. There was a wholesale shop that was looted, all the goods were stolen. Because of some reason, Baro Mia was angry with Manik. Manik had not listened to Baro Mia about something he said not to do, related to the shop incident. Narayan came there coincidently at that time, Baro Mia slapped him and said; LEAVE FROM HERE! He slapped Manik as well. This was the beginning of enmity. They asked Manik to file a case, FIR (First Information Report). He did not. After that, Narayan Biswas did an FIR at the police station. The first convict is Baro Mia, secondly me and then Raton Mia.
Interviewer: Is this FIR just because of the slapping incident?
Habib Member: Back then the union council (Parishad) party politics of Sekandar Khan was going on. Everything happened because of union politics, it was not the fight between Muslim League and Awami League. I was the president of the Muslim League and Razzak, Murad’s father was the president of the Awami League. We had shop side by side. We used to drink tea together in the evening.
Interviewer: You were the president of this union’s Muslim League?
Habib Member: Yes. Razzak was the president of the Awami League. We had no hostility. We chose our party. We loved and treated people well and offered tea to them to bring them to our party. Awami League did the same. Now it is not the same, they only think how they will loot. No need for other people, one person is enough. It was not like this back then.
Interviewer: How did you come back home? How did you think that it was safe enough to come back?
Habib Member: There was Jafor, and big leaders used to accompany him. I had a connection with him, he knew me well. I informed him and brought him to my house. I told him everything in detail. He said, no problem, I am giving you a card. Possibly, the president of the Gaurnadi Awami League, he used to stay next to my house, he was a banker. He used to call me Mama (uncle), he knew me well. The next day he said, let’s go home. I said I will not go. He said, come with me. Then I went with him. While crossing the bridge at the end of Barisal Sadar Road, I saw they were shooting the boy who was the only Razakar[ix] among us. I hid my face after seeing this. I was in the car with that person at that time.
Interviewer: Why are you calling him Razakar? How do you differentiate? What is the basis of calling him Razakar?
Habib Member: We did not know about this. He used to stay in Barisal, not in the village. He got admitted as Razakar, he had no connection in the village. He had no connection to Charadi. As far as I understood, he was also involved in mugging and looting in Barisal, since Razakars had some power at that time. Razakars had guns. As people robbed using the name of Awami League, he also looted engaging with Razakars possibly. We are not certain about it since he was not in our village. There was no Razakar in Charadi. I saw him being shot, and I hid my face since he knew me. He might tell them that I am also one of them. Then they shot him. Since he was not in the village, we do not even know how he got involved with the Razakar.
…
Jafor brought me the Card from the District commander of Freedom Fighters.
Interviewer: What is the importance of the card? What is it about?
Habib Member: The card certifies that I was a supporter of the liberation war. There were checkpoints. The card is used to give permission to pass. It said that I am a citizen of an independent country, I was not on the peace committee, and I did not side with the enemy. While going home, they stopped my boat at Dopdopia, I showed them the card and they permitted me to go.
…
After coming home, Afser and Rob Mia were there, we were drinking tea together. By that time, Shahjahan Kha and others, who are the Awami League leaders, told me to meet them at the old Union Parishad. Afser and Rob Mia realized why he was calling me. I went to meet him, Rob Mia and Afser also went with me. I asked him why you called me. He asked me, do you respect the law of Bangladesh? I paused for a while and then said, I do not understand Bangladesh or Pakistan, when there is a government, I obey its laws. He was arguing with me. Rob Mia got angry and said he is right. Whoever comes to power and forms a government, he will obey its laws.
Interviewer: Why did you say this?
Habib Member: I said whatever was socially legitimate. He was younger than me, he was questioning me. I had to answer that way.
Interviewer: What was your profession after all this?
Habib Member: I continued my earlier business. I was a businessman. Now I do not do anything. Now I am too old.
Interviewer: When did you become the Ward Member?
Habib Member: I participated in Member Election as a candidate since 1979. I could not be elected in the first time.
Interviewer: Did you join any party politics after the liberation war?
Habib Member: Yes, I did. I was a Muslim Leaguer. After the liberation war, Shamchu Talukdar from Ranirhat got the nomination as a Muslim League candidate for the MP election. He got the nomination by paying a bribe. There was another candidate from Khoyrabad, called some Molla; I do not remember his name. If Molla was nominated, I would stay with Muslim League, because he was a good person. So I left the party. No one liked Shamchu Talukdar. After that, Ruhul Amin Hawladar of the Jatiya Party came here wearing a pajama and panjabi. I liked him because of his outlook and speeches. Back then, he was a BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) leader during Ziaur Rahman’s era. At that time, I was the only person who joined BNP, later I also motivated Narayan Biswas to join BNP and he joined including Kayum Ali Hawladar and Rob Molla. There were other issues with local BNP leaders that I did not like. Later Ruhul Amin joined Jatiya Party and I also joined BNP with him. Later I even left Ruhul Amin. The other leaders are still with him. Now I do not belong to any political party.
Interviewer: When did you win the Ward Member election?
Habib Member: I won the next election after 1979. I was defeated by three votes in the first election. At that time, the present three wards were equal to one ward. I won the next two elections without even spending any money. I was a candidate for three terms. In the last two terms, I won the election.
Interviewer: Did you face any humiliation, social pressure or repercussions after the liberation war because of your roles during the war?
Habib Member: I was not involved in any hostility against anybody. After winning the election in the first term, Sekandar Kha filed seventeen cases against me. I did not file any case against anyone. Thanks to God, none of the cases was valid. The cases were dismissed in the court hearing. I did not harm anyone, which is why still I am surviving.
Interviewer: Do you feel a lack of courage or inferiority because of such incidents during the war or your earlier experiences?
Habib Member: No, I am not scared at all. I am confident because of my honesty.
Interviewer: Lastly tell me, what happened to the Hindu temple here?
Habib Member: I told you already that the Military came here. They saw the temple and asked what this is. We said it is a Hindu temple but none of them are there, they are so poor and went to India. They were looking for rich Hindus. Later we told the Hindu villagers to demolish the temple; otherwise, we cannot save you, and you will be targeted. They demolished the temple for the sake of surviving.
Conclusion
The interview makes some uncomfortable moments in terms of understanding the wartime reality. It also questions our understanding of the Liberation War of 1971. The interviewee gives some insights besides confusing moments of lived experience that provoke us to further investigate and explore the oral history of the Bangladesh Liberation War. The provided information in the interview also incites us to find real-life stories and look forward beyond the binary of right and wrong.
References:
Spradley, James P. 1979. The Ethnographic Interview. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
[i] Interviewee’s son (around 40) is a former ward member (2016-2020) of the union council and actively engaged in local politics of Bangladesh Awami League.
[ii] The location he is talking about is a local market called ‘Halta Bazar’, situated on the bank of Koya River, Charadi Union (Bakerganj, Barisal). At that time, Water way through Koya River was the main way to go to Barisal by boat or troller.
[iii] Hossain Gazi was a religious leader (imam), preacher and traditional healer (fakir). He is mostly well known because of his sharp voice, oratory and healing (Fakiri) capacity in the different localities of Bakerganj sub-district, and to some extent across the Barisal District. He died of old age in 2019.
[iv] This is another local market (Bazar) on the other side of Koya river, close to Halta Bazar by water way.
[v] At that time, he was the Union Parishad Chairman. He used to be called “Baro Mia” by the people of his locality and his business partners. He was an active member and one of the most influential Muslim League leaders in Bakerganj sub-district, Barisal. By profession, he was a businessman. After 1971, it is become a taboo to talk about him in public spaces. He is mostly well known because of his leadership quality, discretion and business skills.
[vi] Garulia is another union of Bakerganj sub-district.
[vii] Accurately he was 44 years old during the liberation war.
[viii] Choramoddi is another Union next to Charadi.
[ix] Razakar was an East Pakistani paramilitary force organized by General Tikka Khan in the East Pakistan, now called Bangladesh, during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
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Md. Abu Salek Khan is a researcher and activist, currently working as a Senior Officer – Research & Evaluation at the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) which is a Dhaka-based development research organization.