| Taher, (Colonel) Abu
(1938-1976) military officer, a sector commander in the war
of liberation, radical activist. Colonel Abu Taher was born
in Badarpur in Assam on 14 November 1938. His paternal home is at village
Kazla in Purbadhala thana of Netrokona district. Abu Taher obtained his
graduation from Sylhet M C College in 1959 and read up to MA preliminary
level in Social Welfare and Research Institute under the University of
Dhaka in 1960. He served as an assistant teacher for sometime at Durgapur
High School in Mirsharai thana of Chittagong district (1959).
Abu Taher joined the Pakistan Army in 1960. He was transferred
to special service group (Commando force) in 1965. He fought in
the Indo-Pak War of 1965 first in Kashmir and then in Sialkot
sector, and received gallantry award for his chivalry. Taher participated
in a training course at Ford Brag and Ford Benning on guerrilla
warfare in 1969, and obtained graduation with honours in higher
war techniques. He participated in the Senior Tactical Course
at Quetta Staff College in 1970, and left the college in protest
against genocide
in Bangladesh by Pakistan army from 25 March 1971.
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Abu Taher |
In July 1971, he along with Major muhammad
abul manzoor, Major Ziauddin, and Captain Patwary crossed the
border from Abotabad, and joined the War of Liberation. He was appointed
the sector commander of Sector 11 comprising Mymensingh and part of Rangpur
districts. He was seriously wounded on 14 November 1971 while launching
an attack on enemy camp at Kamalpur, known as the gateway to Dhaka. His
left leg was blown off from above the knee.
Abu Taher came back to Bangladesh in April 1972 after
medical treatment in India, and was appointed the Adjutant General of
Bangladesh Army. In June 1972, Taher was made commander of 44th battalion
and commanding officer of Comilla cantonment.
Colonel Taher joined in politics in October 1972 and was elected the vice president of central
organising committee of Jatiya Samajtantric Dal. After the tragic killing of Bangabandhu
sheikh mujibur rahman on 15 August 1975 by a group of army officers, there were a string of coups and counter coups in the army, and this created a commotion among the general soldiers. In this backdrop, Abu Taher organised the uprising of the soldiers and public on 7 November 1975. Abu Taher was arrested on 24 November (1975). He along with other 34 was tried by a military tribunal inside the Dhaka Central Jail and was sentenced to death. His death penalty was executed by hanging on 21 July 1976.
Colonel Taher was honoured with the gallantry award 'Bir
Uttam' for his valour in the War of Liberation. [Md Anwar Hossain]
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