Samad, Ashfakus

Samad, Ashfakus (1949-1971) a sub-sector company commander and martyr in the War of Liberation. His full name is Abu Mayeen Ashfakus Samad. He was born on 9 January 1949 at Faridpur. His father Azizus Samad was a custom officer of the government and his mother Sadeka Samad was an honorary magistrate.

Ashfakus Samad passed SSC examination from St Joseph School, HSC from Notre Dame College and got himself admitted in B.Sc honours class in the Department of Statistics, Dhaka University. He was involved in politics while a student in the university.

After the army crackdown on the night of 25 March 1971, he along with a few friends moved to Kishoreganj on 29 March to collect arms and ammunitions. With the support of arms from the officers of 2 East Begal Regiment and 4 East Bengal Regiment stationed there, he returned to Dhaka. Later he went to India for military training. After receiving training in Agartala he fought in a number of raids and ambushes under 2 East Bengal Saldanadi Sub-sector Regiment. He was selected in the army as an officer of the first Bangladesh batch. Samad was commissioned on 9 October 1971 and was posted as a company commander of Shahebganj Sub-sector under Sector 6. As a company commander he fought valiently in Jaimonirhat, Bhurungamari and Raiganj. He successfully liberated Bhurungamari and the adjacent areas.

On the night of 20 November, the freedom fighters launched an attack on the Pakistan army's stronghold in Raiganj. In the face of severe counter attack of the enemy, Ashfakus Samad with an object of making scope for safe retreat of his army began cover firing at the enemy causing serious damage to them while his soldiers were able to move to safety. He was struck by an enemy bullet on his head and embraced martyrdom. He was buried with full military honour on 21 November in the graveyard adjacent to the mosque in Jaimonirhat Bazar. The local people renamed Jaimonirhat as Samad Nagar in recognition of his valour and sacrifice in the War of Liberation. The Bangladesh Government conferred upon him the title of 'Bir Uttam'. A portion of the main road in Motijheel from Dainik Bangla crossing to Shapla Chattar in Dhaka has recently been renamed as Bir Uttam Ashfakus Samad Sarak. [Qazi Sajjad Ali Zahir]