Regional Resistance: Ohidur Bahini of Atrai

During the 1971 Liberation War, dozens of regional forces emerged across Bangladesh. Just as the freedom fighters trained under the sub-sectors and the Bengal Regiment fought valiantly, these regional forces also put up a tough resistance against the Pakistan forces. In the month of victory, we bring you the stories of some of these heroic forces.
In the early days of the 1971 Liberation War, a formidable resistance movement emerged in the Rajshahi region, led by Ohidur Rahman, a prominent figure in the Purba Banglar Communist Party. This force, which later came to be known as the "Ohidur Bahini", played a crucial role in the struggle for independence.
As per the surviving members, the Ohidur Bahini orchestrated over 50 successful battles against Pakistani forces and Razakars (local collaborators).
The demolition of the Sahagola Bridge in Atrai upazila, Naogaon, on September 6 was a crucial victory for Ohidur Bahini against the Pakistani forces.
Over one hundred Pakistani soldiers were killed in this battle, according to Mizanur Rahman's book "Muktijudde Ohidur Bahini" (Ohidur Bahini in the Liberation War)".
Sheikh Anisur Rahman, a member of Ohidur Bahini, said that they received intelligence that a Pakistani train would be passing through Atrai on its way from Natore to Naogaon. So they decided to blow up the Sahagola bridge and lay an ambush. As they didn't have the necessary explosives, they approached the members of the Raja-Malek group, a local guerilla who had training in handling explosives, for a joint operation.
"On the night of the operation, we reached a point between Sahagola station and the bridge by boat. From there, we stealthily approached the bridge and rounded up seven Razakars guarding it. The Raja-Malek group then set the detonator and placed anti-tank mines on both sides of the railway bridge. After we took up positions with our LMGs and SMGs, the detonator was then activated, resulting in an explosion that caused a large section of the bridge to collapse. The heavy rainstorm that night ensured that the Pakistani military in Atrai did not hear the explosion."
Mozahar Hossain, another freedom fighter of Ohidur Bahini who took part in the operation, said, "As the train approached, it turned off its engine light and proceeded onto the bridge. In seconds, five of the six train coaches plunged into the canal water. The military personnel in the remaining compartment immediately opened fire. We returned fire from three LMGs. After a while, their firing ceased, and we realised that the remaining Pak soldiers were also killed."

Initially, the Ohidur Bahini started with some one hundred freedom fighters. However, as the war progressed, its ranks grew to exceed 2,000. The bravery and exploits of this force have been documented in two separate books, which detail its formation, training, attacks, counterattacks, and other significant exploits during the war.
The Ohidur Bahini acquired a large quantity of arms and ammunition by raiding various police stations and Razakar camps in Naogaon, Rajshahi, and Natore.
They carried out raids at Razakar camps in places like Begunbari, Baigacha, Sonadanga, Mainam, Taherpur, and Sadakkutia.
Among notable battles fought by Ohidur Bahini during the war are the Bamnigram ambush, Barnitala battle, Taherpur-Bhabaniganj and Brahmapurhat operations, Naldighi battle, Naldanga Bridge operation, and Bhabaniganj skirmish.
FORMATION
According to the books "Muktijudde Ohidur Bahini" and "Mukti Sangrame Atrai", Ohidur Bahini's influence extended across 14 upazilas in four districts, stretching from Naogaon to Natore and Bogura in the east and Rajshahi in the west.
In February of this year, this reporter visited Naogaon, Rajshahi, and Natore and interviewed 50 freedom fighters of this group, including Ohidur Rahman himself, now 81 years old.
They said that despite the Purba Banglar Communist Party's stance against participating in the Liberation War, several leaders, including Ohidur Rahman, defied the majority and decided to join anyway.

In the first week of April, an 11-member Sarbodaliya Sangram Parishad in Atrai upazila of Naogaon was formed, with Ohidur Rahman in the council.
The initial training of the freedom fighters involved the use of dummy guns at Sahebganj field near Atrai Police Station, according to Khalequzzaman Bulu, a member of Ohidur Bahini.
FIRST OP
On April 10, Ohidur Rahman decided to lead a raid on the Atrai Police Station to loot weapons.
Ohidur Rahman said, "We divided 25 men into three groups to attack the police station. One group would loot the arsenal, one would snatch the pistol from the duty officer, and the other would be outside to keep a lookout and deal with any interference. As soon as I entered the police station and punched the duty officer, he left his pistol and fled. We then broke into the armoury and took 34 rifles and 2,000 bullets.
Abdul Mannan from Ohidur Bahini said their initial training began with these weapons at Sahebganj field.
In late April, as the Pakistani military began advancing towards Atrai, they relocated their training to the Bhabanipur School ground in Koisa village.
Initially, Ohidur Bahini consisted of farmers and local activists but eventually expanded to include people from all backgrounds, including military personnel, students, and labourers. This allowed Ohidur Bahini to spread across a vast area.
Six rivers, including Atrai, Chhota Jamuna, Fakkini, Khajura, and Nagar, as well as 13 beels, including Chalan Beel, flowed through the region where the Ohidur Bahini was spread across.
Being in a riverine region, Ohidur Bahini operated primarily on waterways.
According to Hasanuzzaman Bhulu, a member of the group, they had more than one hundred small and large boats. There were separate vessels dedicated to transporting weaponry and supplies as well as gathering intelligence.
Ohidur Bahini operated without a fixed headquarters during the war. Instead, they relied on a network of temporary bases.
AMMO RUN, CAPTURE
Between May and June, the Pakistani army and Razakars faced mounting pressure from continuous guerrilla attacks by Ohidur Bahini.
However, as their arsenal was dwindling with each successful operation, in July, freedom fighters Ohidur Rahman, Manjur Alam, Qayyum, and Abul Hashem decided to take a trip to India with Tk 15,000 to procure weapons. However, they were captured by Razakars along the way.
Manjur Alam recounted how the Razakars turned them over to the police, who in turn handed them over to a Pakistani major. Despite extensive interrogation and beatings, Manjur Alam and his companions steadfastly denied any involvement in the war.
When asked how they escaped, Manjur Alam said, "After three days of interrogation, the Pakistani major handed us over to Naogaon Shanti Committee Chairman Badiul Alam, who then confined us in his house. One night, the man guarding us got drunk and passed out, and we managed to break free and escape."
However, they discovered that their money and revolver had been taken, forcing them to abandon their trip to India.
RAIDS, OPS CONTINUE
With their plan to acquire weapons from India falling through, Ohidur Bahini began targeting police stations for firearms. One notable operation was the raid at the Bagmara Police Station in Rajshahi on August 14, Pakistan's Independence Day.
Khalekuzzaman Bulu, a member of Ohidur Bahini, stated, "We intended to take advantage of the Independence Day celebrations as a diversion to raid the police station."
The freedom fighters were divided into two groups and hit the police station around 2:00am.
"When they resisted our initial attack, we decided to retreat. The next morning, we renewed our assault on the police station and managed to snatch 40 rifles and 2,000 bullets." The Ohidur Bahini had raided the Bagmara Police Station a second time on November 21.
On September 19, Ohidur Bahini launched an ambush on a Pakistani army boat convoy at Taranagar-Baullapara villages. The convoy was returning from Bandaikhara village in Atrai, where they had committed mass killings, looting, and rapes.
Over 150 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack, according to Ohidur Rahman's book "Mukti Sangrame Atrai" (Atrai in the Liberation War).
Mojibor Rahman, a freedom fighter of Ohidur Bahini, said, "Upon receiving intelligence that the Pak soldier was heading to Bandaikhara village, hundreds of freedom fighters took positions on both sides of the Atrai river to ambush them on their return. At noon, when 11 military boats approached, we launched a coordinated attack. Ten boats were sunk in the river, and the remaining boat fled towards Atrai."
On December 9, the force attacked the Raninagar Police Station in Naogaon, forcing 40 Razakars to surrender and seizing more than 50 rifles.
On the morning of December 14, Ohidur Bahini captured the Atrai police station and raised the flag of independent Bangladesh for the first time in Atrai.
Translated and edited from Bangla by Subrata Roy.
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