Oliur Rahman, a forgotten warrior

Oliur Rahman was a man of distinct quality, and had modern knowledge and interest in science (despite) having a madrasah background.

Along with many other enlightened people, he was picked up by the Al-Badrs on 11 December of 1971 and was killed at Rayerbazar mass grave in Dhaka city.

Son of Habibur Rahman Khorasani, Oliur Rahman was born at Moiarchar village of Sylhet sadar thana on 7 February of 1932.  Their forefathers were from Khorasan of Persia.

He became first class third in title examination under the madrasah education board in 1953, and took courses in English language in Lahore.

Oliur Rahman first joined a school as a teacher in Teknaf before joining as superintendent at a madrasah in Barisal in 1953.

He then moved to Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah as a teacher in 1954 and continued it till 1959. He also served Bangla academy as translator and researcher in the Urdu and in Arabic section in 1960.

The man organised the students and teachers of the Alia madrasah and formed an association named ‘Mukti Sangha’.

Also known as a moulana, Oliur Rahman chaired the mass rally held at the Govindacharan Park in Sylhet town on 22 February, to raise protests against the 21 February killings.

Ignoring the rulers’ red eyes, he formed ‘Awami Ulama Party’ to extend support of ulamas towards the Awami League programmes. He also organised ulamas for the rights movement of 1969.

Alongside agitation programmes in the 60s, Oliur Rahman had joined the campaign through writings in the regional

and national newspapers and periodicals in favour of the cause of the Bengalis in light of the religious and Islamic point of view.

But, the religious fanatics and anti-liberation forces did not spare this patriotic man. On the eve of the great victory, a group of Al-Badars picked him up on 11 December from Lalbagh area and torturing for

days they gouged his eyes up before killing on 14 December. They dumped the body along with others at Rayerbazar the same day. The family, however, could not collect it.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Force General MAG Osmani also acknowledged the huge contribution of the Awami Ulama party chief Shahid Moulana Oliur Rahman in writing.  

Although he was remembered for years after the liberation war, nobody remembers him now. A committee named ‘Shahid buddhijibi Oliur Rahman Smriti Sangsad’ was once formed, but that is no more active.

The Islamic Foundation awarded him posthumously in 2001 for his distinctive contribution to the humanity.