The heroic sector commander of the Kushtia battlefield in Liberation War of 1971 Abu Osman Chowdhury has died in Coronavirus. He died at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the capital around 8:am on Saturday. He was 85 years old at the time of his death. This heroic freedom fighter was suffering from various physical ailments for a long time.
Abu Osman Chowdhury was born on 1 January 1936 in the Chowdhury family of Madnergaon village under Faridganj upazila in Chandpur district.
During the War of Liberation, Abu Osman Chowdhury was serving in Kushtia as a Major in the Pakistan Army. Upon receiving the news of Operation Searchlight, he reached the Chauadanga district on March 26 and declared rebellion against the Pakistan Army and joined the Liberation War.
Earlier, on 6 March 1971, Abu Osman Chowdhury took charge of the battlefield by naming the vast area from Kushtia to Barisal district as South-West Battlefield. Later, on 10 April 1971, the Bangladesh government appointed him as the Regional Commander for the South West. In the last half of May, the Commander-in-Chief of War of Libertaion, MAG Osmani, divided the South-West Battlefield into two and formed Sectors 7 and 8, and Abu Osman was appointed in charge of Sector 8.
Initially the operation area of that sector at that time was Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and Patuakhali districts. At the end of May, the operation area was reduced to Kushtia and Jessore, Khulna district headquarters, Satkhira subdivision and the northern part of Faridpur. The head of this sector was Abu Osman Chowdhury and later Major MA Manzur.
According to family sources, he was admitted to the Dhaka Combined Military Hospital on the afternoon of August 30 after his condition deteriorated. At the end of the test, coronavirus was detected in his body.
He was one of the members of Etattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.
He has visited Kushtia and surrounding districts more than once since independence and attested various events. He was known to the freedom fighters and freedom-loving people of Kushtia.
The Hon’able President Abdul Hamid expressed deep grief over the death of Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Abu Osman Chowdhury, Sector Commander of the Liberation War, who was awarded the Independence Medal for his heroic contribution.
According to Bangabhaban Press Wing, in his condolence message, the President said that the nation will always remember the contribution of Abu Osman Chowdhury in the great war of liberation.
The President prayed for the forgiveness of the soul of the late Abu Osman and conveyed his deepest condolences to his bereaved family.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Press Wing said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed grief over the death of Abu Osman.
In her condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the heroic contribution of Abu Osman in the great war of liberation will always be remembered. The impeccable role of this heroic fighter in the implementation of the ideology and consciousness of the liberation war in independent Bangladesh and for the welfare of the country and the nation will always inspire us.
The Prime Minister prayed for the forgiveness of the soul of the deceased and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.