Posthumous award for Bahini member sought
From Our Staff Reporter, BIRGANJ, DEC. 20- A recommendation for the highest award for valor, although posthumously, has been made for Havildar Sakimuddin of the Mukti Bahini.
Captain Sultan Shahriar, Commandant of the Bahini’s –
ment in Sector (Brigade) No. 5 gave a glowing account of the Havildar’s gallantry. A Pak garrison was creating havoc, he said at Bhajanpura from November 21 a Chinese MMG particularly taking a heavy toll. The Mukti Bahini was asked to storm the Pak gun position. The Captain summoned his officers and called for volunteers, when the 23-years-old Sakimuddin came forward.
Assigned to the task, Havildar Sakimuddin together with three of his boys went into action On November 24. They destroyed Pak positions and silenced the MMG but not before Sakimuddin fell to the enemy’s bullets.
Captain Shariar is himself a soldier with some repute. He belongs to a Commilla family now settled in Chittagong. Born in Calcutta in 1946. Shariar was commissioned in the 11th Baluch. When he joined the liberation struggle, he was placed in command of the Alpha Regiment with 1,200 men. He personally led the Regiment in several assaults.
Shariar said he had recommended to the Bangladesh Government 50 names for awards for acts of gallantry. Although he would have liked to enlarge the list. he explained. he kept it to the minimum because the awards would be in cash and “our country is poor.”
Asked about his future plans, he said: “We would like to form the core of our own Army. of course, with the best boys in the Bahini, selected after proper screening.”
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 21.12.1971