Kamal Was First Martyr of August Carnage

Although Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, was the primary target of the bloodshed on August 15, 1975, it was his eldest son Sheikh Kamal who chose martyrdom first.

Sheikh Kamal was assassinated by Major (dismissed) Bazlul Huda with a stengun as soon as he was identified as Bangabandhu's son.

It was discovered through the evidence of retired havildar Mohammad Quddus Sikder, one of Bangabandhu's house guards and the fourth prosecution witness in the murder case, that Bazlul Huda and Noor Chowdhury were among the first people to enter the residence.

As soon as they got into the home, they noticed Sheikh Kamal, and Bazlul Huda quickly shot him with a Sten-gun. From the verandah, Sheikh Kamal tumbled into the reception area. He was fatally wounded by another round from his murderers.

Mahitul Islam, the defendant in the murder case and Bangabandhu Bhaban's residential personal assistant, made reference to this in his declaration.

On December 13, 1972, Mahitul Islam began working as an assistant in the secretariat of the then-prime minister.

Mahitul, a member of the special section of the police, served as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's on-site personal assistant and receptionist in 1975.

From 8 p.m. on August 14 to 8 a.m. on August 15, he was on duty.

About the August 15 carnage, Mohitul said, "It was about 4:30 am in the morning. All around has turned pale. There were electric lights around the house. The firing started at Bangabandhu's residence.

The firing was stopped a few moments later. Housekeeper Abdul alias Selim brought Punjabi and spectacles for Bangabandhu from above, Bangabandhu came to verandah wearing those Punjabi and eyeglasses and went downstairs saying, 'Army sentry, police sentry, what are you doing as too much firing was there?' and then he went to upstairs. Sheikh Kamal came down from the up and said 'army and police brothers, come with me. Then three to four uniformed army personnel came. Bazlul Huda, wearing uniforms, shot on the leg of Sheikh Kamal. When Sheikh Kamal was introduced as Sheikh Mujib's son, he was killed through brushfire."

A brief account of this is also found in the Mohiuddin Ahmed's book titled "House No. 32 - March 25 to August 15".

It is reported in the book that Huda spoke to a man named Baten regarding the specifics of Bangabandhu's murder. The Jasad-supported Chhatra League's central committee included Baten. He was then a resident at Dhaka University's Mohsin Hall.

Bazlul Huda arrived at his sister's home following the bloodshed on August 15 and led Baten outside. Baten stayed the night with his sister. At an army canteen next to Ganabhaban, Huda and Baten had dinner. There, Huda spoke with Baten about the murder of Mujib.

In accordance with Huda's assertion, Major Noor directed the attack on Sheikh Mujib's home in Dhanmondi. Sheikh Kamal left the house after hearing gunfire, and Huda murdered him right away.

After the attack on his house, Bangabandhu talked to the then Army Chief General Shafiullah through telephone. The similar evidence of Sheikh Kamal's killing is also found from their telephonic conversation.

In separate interviews with a national daily in 1987 and 1993, Shafiullah said after the attack on his house, Bangabandhu called him, asking him to send a force as soon as possible.

Bangabandhu said: 'Shafiullah, your force attacks my house. Kamal might be killed. Send your force quickly.'

Expatriate writer and researcher Golam Murshid has given a detailed account of this in his book titled "Liberation War and Then".

After the assassination of Sheikh Kamal, Mohiuddin and his allies entered the house and started looking for Sheikh Mujib. At last, he was seen on the front verandah. Mujib was standing calmly with a pipe in his hand.

Seeing Bangabandhu, Mohiuddin got feared and he could not shoot Bangabandhu. He just said "Sir, come with us". When he started down holding Bangabandhu from the stairs, Bangabandhu shouted, "Where are you taking me?"

Bangabandhu was then shot with a sten gun by Huda and Noor after Mohiuddin was ordered to stand aside.

Bangabandhu collapsed on the steps at around 5:40 in the morning while still holding the pipe in his right hand. The murderers shot him in the abdomen and right side of the chest. And as the sun was ready to rise, the glory-sun of Bengal sank down.

The murdering mission continued after Bangabandhu was assassinated. Aziz Pasha and Moslehuddin arrived with lancer and artillery men after Mohiuddin, Huda, and Noor left the home. Pasha and his friends proceeded to the first floor.

Wahab Joardar, a subedar, was already there. They brought down Sheikh Russell, Sheikh Naser, and a house servant. Begum Mujib, Sheikh Jamal, and the spouses of Kamal and Jamal were slain with Sten guns in the bedroom by Pasha and Moslehuddin.

Later, when Sheikh Russell was pleading with a havildar to take him to his mother, Pasha ordered the havildar to do so. The havildar then sent Russell to his mother on the first floor where he was fatally murdered.

Source: BSS