National Desk :
The heroic story of Elias Ahmed, a valiant member of the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), is essential to the Liberation War stories. Before the chaos of war overwhelmed the country, Elias took leave to come home. However, as the combat drums rang out, he marched forth to the battlefield, never to return, even after the country gained independence.
For fifty years, his family could only conjecture about his fate, piecing together parts of his travels across several war fronts. It wasn’t until later that they discovered the truth of his sacrifice in a book, giving a vivid picture of Elias as a heroic freedom fighter.
Elias was born in the village of Raninagar under Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj district. He left behind his wife Saleha Begum and three children, including his eldest son, Agriculturist Dr. Md. Shafiqul Alam, who is now the Registrar of Bangladesh Open University. Shafiqul Alam recalls his father’s absence and his mother’s long wait for her husband’s return, hoping without hope to rejoin him one day.
The discovery of a book called “The History of the Liberation War in 1971” by local author Nijam Uddin altered the trajectory of their search. While perusing its pages, Shafiqul Alam came across the name of Elias Ahmed, an EPR martyr honored by Thana Commander Bir Muktijoddha Nizam Uddin.
Dr. Shafiqul Alam was flipping through the pages when he came upon a story about the valiant fights that the EPR troops had engaged in, including his father’s final stand. The terrible day of April 19, when Pakistani forces suddenly attacked the Dab Bagan (Coconut Garden) in Sathia upazila, is graphically described in the book. 17 warriors – among them Elias Ahmed-and around 15 civilians gave their life in the face of intense opposition. Since the families of the local martyrs and EPR members could not receive their bodies, the area was renamed “Shahid Nagar” (Martyr’s Town) previously it was Paikorhati in Sathia upazila.
Dr. Alam was inspired by the discovery to travel to Shahid Nagar, where he found comfort in the “Bir Bangali” Memorial built in memory of the slain soldiers. Elias Ahmed’s family paid tribute to his strong spirit and steadfast dedication by visiting his tomb in Shahid Nagar for the first time in December 2021.