BSF officer who helped form Mukti Bahini dies at 84

July 07, 2023 20:09

Major PK Ghosh/BSF on Twitter

Major PK Ghosh, who was instrumental in forming the Mukti Bahini or the Bangladesh Liberation Force a day after the Pakistani army unleashed a reign of terror in the neighbouring country some 52 years ago along Tripura border, is no more.

He was 84.

His daughter Agomoni Ghosh said he was suffering from cancer and breathed his last in Delhi on Thursday.

"He died after some suffering that dented his health but not his spirit as he battled cancer with the same zeal as the enemies of the nation. My father is an unsung hero. His career in the army, BSF and R&AW is one of sheer professional brilliance but one that remained in shadows because of the sensitive nature of his job. He had a soft corner for Bangladesh because he was the first Indian to have fought in the 1971 Liberation War," she said.

At the time of the Liberation War, Major Ghosh was commanding four border outposts of BSF at Sreenagar, Amlighat, Samarendraganj and Nalua in the southern part of Tripura bordering Chittagong division, then in East Pakistan.

Major Ghosh had earlier told PTI about the formation of the first Mukti Bahini group on March 26, 1971.

On March 26, 1971, Pakistan army sent an infantry battalion from Comilla cantonment to Chittagong commanded by a brigadier to counter the forces of Major Ziaur Rehaman and deployed 10-15 men for the protection of Shubhapur Road Bridge, near the Sreenagar BOP in Sabroom, the southernmost town in Tripura, he said.

The bridge was located in a strategic point, which connected Chittagong and Dhaka and was the main supply line for essentials, he added.

"Around 2pm, my East Pakistan Rifles contact Havildar Nuruddin came to Sreenagar BOP along with Prof. Obaidullah Majumdar, a member of the National Assembly, and Dr. Amir Hussain, an Awami League leader. They told us about the terror let loose by the Pakistan army on villagers including women and children and asked for immediate intervention to dislodge them," Ghosh said. -- PTI

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