On that day, Thursday, October 26, 1971, it was approximately one quarter of an hour on the clock. The guerrilla fighters fighting for independence set a shining example of incredible courage. The day was marked by a guerrilla operation at the then Pakistan Television’s Dhaka Broadcasting Center at the DIT building (now RAJUK).
The guerrilla operation, which was conducted in broad daylight, dealt a severe blow to the morale of the Pakistan Army and its domestic and foreign allies. Because, the East Pakistan office of Pakistan Television was very close to the then Governor House or the present Bangabhaban. Abdul Motalib Malek, known as ‘Stubborn Malek’ used to live in the Governor’s House. Niazi’s regular meetings were held with Rao Farman Ali, the top officer of the Pakistan Army.
After such a large explosion within 30 yards of tight security, the Pakistani forces realized that their security was not at all secure. The brutal guerrilla operation was also reported on the BBC. It was said that the freedom fighters have now moved to a sensitive part of the security wall of the Pakistani forces. It’s proved that it was a successful attack of the freedom fighters on the television broadcasting building in Dhaka.
The blast required about 12 pounds of plastic explosives (PK), fuses and detonators to blow up the Pakistani army’s six tight security fences. Reverend Mahbub Ali, an officer of the General Department of the Television Office, played an unforgettable role in this operation. And the main explosion was caused by two teenage guerrillas named Ferdous and John. Both of them were members of Dhaka Sadar and Uttar Bahini (Manik Bahini) Dhaka City Special Platoon. Among them were guerrilla Ferdous Nazmi (Saeed Iqbal Nazmi) of Bara Magbazar and Najibullah Jan of Narinda of old Dhaka.
The implementation of planning and preparation for this operation started from the beginning of October. The main target of the DIT building operation was the transmission center, the television antenna on the tower. Mahbub Ali, Ferdous and John were given two entry passes to enter the DIT building. Using that entry side, they entered the DIT building and did Reiki in five to seven minutes. In addition to measuring the location of the explosion, he also determined the location of the cutting charge. The main problem is that if you want to carry out an attack, you have to take explosives inside. That work was also done by Mahbub Ali. He used to take a little bit of explosives inside every day. The work was being done very carefully. Because under no circumstances can it be caught.
Guerrilla Ferdous and John discussed with Mahbub Ali, who works at DIT, and made the final decision that the shoes should be taken under the soles of the feet and with fake bandages on the feet. Before leaving for the office, John tied a first aid bandage under his pants. When placed under this bandage, 4 ounces of matte eight ounces plastic explosive (PK) without packet. This explosive looks like a house pudding. This is done by putting 2 feet inside the shoe under the sole of the foot and weighing 8 ounces. At the risk of his life, Mahbub Ali entered the DIT building with 12 pounds in 12 days. The explosives he kept inside were kept in a seven-story old storage room. Meanwhile, a bomb blast in a taxi parked in front of Habib Bank next to EPIDC (guerrilla operation guerrilla Raisul Islam Assad led it) shocked the Pakistani army.
In response, the checkpoints in the DIT building were searched. Explosives smuggling became impossible for Mahbub Ali. There is no substitute for using plastic explosives to increase the level of explosion and the ability to destroy. But the reality was against the guerrillas then. The day after the Habib Bank blast, his feet were tied under a fake bandage with 6 feet of ‘fuse wire’. A detonator is inserted into the inside of a fountain pen.
In the meanwhile, preparations were made to tidy up the abandoned file room on the seventh floor. They wanted to complete the operation very quickly, fearing that other items, including explosives, would be seized in Lukona.
Finally, on October 26, 1971, it was the turn of guerrilla fighters Ferdous and John to re-enter the DIT building. This time the entry side is collected with the name of the audition. John and Ferdous entered the DIT building at half past one in the afternoon. After going through all the checkposts and going to the 6th floor, the West Pakistani police started questioning them at the checkpoint, “What are you going to do?” The police said to John and Ferdous as they were busy searching for another person, “Okay, that’s all you can do.”
Without delay, they went to the room on the seventh floor, collected explosives and set the charge. At the end of the ignition point and detonator fit of the fuse wire, the fuse wire was set on fire at 1:12 pm. It will take only 3 minutes to burn this fuse wire. Within these three minutes they have to get out of the DIT building. (This description of the time is available from the participating guerrillas)
They can’t run, they can’t walk. Only then there is a 100 percent chance of being caught in the act of suspicion. Each second seemed to be as long as their one hour. Where there is no lake he walks quickly and when he sees the lake he walks relatively slowly. At one point, they both came out through the main gate of the DIT building. A huge explosion occurred within seconds of them standing on the verandah of the stadium.
Inside the building where the main explosion took place, part of the tower was completely smashed. The clock that can be seen now, that clock in the building also became obsolete. The window glass shattered and fell around. DIT files flew and scattered on the streets. The buildings next to the DIT building also shook at the sound of the explosion.
The shattered windows of the windows that day spread across the streets are a reflection of the arrogance of the Pakistani Harmads in besieged Dhaka.
🖐 Information Gratitude:
1. Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, a heroic freedom fighter and one of the pioneers of the cultural movement.
2. Freedom Struggle Guerrilla Operation in Dhaka: Hedayet Hossain Morshed
Translation Credit: Our heartiest gratitude goes to Sreemoyee Mazumder, for her wonderful and kind support.