‘Apel Mahmud proves he is a freedom fighter for the second time’

The songs broadcast by Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War of 1971 inspired freedom fighters on the warfront as well as people yearning for independence across the country. One of the prominent ones is “Mora Ekti Phul ke Bachabo Bole Juddho Kori”, translated roughly as “We fight to save a single flower”.

The man behind the lyrics and melody of that timeless masterpiece is Apel Mahmud. Nevertheless, on Monday, he appeared before the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council to prove his identity as a freedom fighter.

After the hearing, Apel, a recipient of the Ekushey Padak, said: “I, Apel Mahmud, have had to prove for a second time that I'm a freedom fighter, while I’m still alive. The members of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council apologised as the allegation that I was not a freedom fighter was proven false.”

The allegation that Apel was not a freedom fighter was made by Monowar Hossain, general secretary of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Karmi Parishad.

In response to the claim raised after Aug 5 last year, Fatema Khatun, deputy director (development) of the council, issued a notice on May 12 asking Apel to submit all supporting evidence and documents. Apel was called in for a hearing at the Cumilla Circuit House on Jun 2.

After the hearing, Apel said: "I fought directly in Sector 3. I fought under the command of Captain Matiur Rahman. We fought in various areas, including Panchdona in Narsingdi, until the 10th of April, 1971.”

"We freed Narsingdi on the 10th. Then we went to Ashuganj under Captain Nasim. There, we fought the Pakistanis at Bhairab Ramnagar Bridge. From there, I fought in Ramnagar Bridge, Bhairab, Ashuganj, Habiganj, Chunarughat, Chanpur Tea Estate, and Teliapara Tea Estate. Teliapara was my last battleground in 1971.”

“During the Ashuganj battle, I got an injury near my left eye. Later, I was taken to Agartala, and Mohammad Abdul Jabbar Bhai also came there. On May 25, the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was established in Kolkata.”

He continued, “In the beginning, Jabbar Bhai and I had to organise a programme for the refugees. We organised a two-day programme and got many artists onboard.”

“From the 1st of June, I fulfilled my duties at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra until my retirement in 2006, regardless of what it came to be called later -- Bangladesh Betar or Radio Bangladesh.”

On the allegation against him, he said: “I never harmed Monowar Hossain. I don’t know why he did this.”

Apel was accompanied to the hearing by his wife Nasrin Mahmud, as well as several valiant freedom fighters, including Manoranjan Ghoshal, a fellow Ekushey Padak winner and former director of Bangladesh Betar, Ashraful Alam, Jahangir Hayat Khan, and Subhash Saha.

After the hearing, Shahina Khatun said that after Aug 5, allegations were made against 31 people from the Cumilla district, questioning their status as freedom fighters. Under the circumstances, two committees held hearings at the Cumilla Circuit House. There, Apel Mahmud proved his status as a freedom fighter.

“If Apel Mahmud had only been involved in singing songs and inspiring others, he would have been considered an associate freedom fighter. But he has proven with documents that he fought on the frontlines, confirming that he is a valiant freedom fighter.”

A native of Cumilla’s Meghna Upazila, Apel sang the song “Mora Ekti Phul ke Bachabo Bole Juddho Kori” during the Liberation War. Later in 2006, it was chosen as the seventh greatest Bengali song of all time by listeners in a BBC survey.

Another famed song by Apel is “Teer Hara Ei Dheu Er Sagor Paari Debo Re” (We dare to cross this rough sea of waves). Besides patriotic songs, he has also sung Rabindra Sangeet, Lalon songs, mass-inspirational songs and modern songs. He was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh, for his contributions to music in 2005.