Colonel (retired) Abu Taher (1938-1976) was a famous Bangladeshi freedom fighter, a sector commander in Bangladesh Liberation War, and a left-leaning radical activist. For his gallantry in Bangladesh Liberation War, he was awarded the Bir Uttom award. 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Bangladesh Liberation War (two other names are also used occasionally) refers to a roughly nine-month armed conflict between West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh. ... The Bangladesh Liberation War (two other names are also used occasionally) refers to a roughly nine-month armed conflict between West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh. ... Bir Uttom (literally, Best Hero in Bengali) is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh. ...

Early life and education

Taher was born in his Badarpur, Assam in British India on 14 November 1938. His family hailed from Kazla village in Purbadhala thana of the Netrokona District (currently in Bangladesh). He graduated from Sylhet M C College in 1959. Then, he studied at the Social Welfare and Research Institute, University of Dhaka, but he dropped out before finishing his Masters in 1960 and joined the Pakistan Army. Assam (অসম) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... The British Raj is an informal term for the period of British rule of most of the Indian subcontinent, or present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (previously known as Ceylon). ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Netrokona is a district in central Bangladesh. ... Sylhet is a town in northeastern Bangladesh. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The University of Dhaka was established in 1921. ... 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ...

Military career

In Pakistan Army, Abu Taher joined the elite Special Service Group of the Commando Force in 1965. Following his training, he fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 in the Kashmir sector and the Sialkot sector. For his part, he received a gallantry award from the Government of Pakistan. After the war, Taher took advanced training on Guerrilla Warfare at Fort Brag and Fort Benning in the United States in 1969. He was posted to the Quetta Staff College, Pakistan in 1970. Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... The 1965 war between India and Pakistan, also known as the Second Kashmir War, was the culmination of a series of skirmishes that occurred between April 1965 and September 1965. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Quetta is the capital of the province Balochistan in Pakistan. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Role in Bangladesh Liberation War

Following the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Taher defected from the Pakistan Army to join the war. In July, 1971, he crossed the India-Pakistan border near Abbottabad, West Pakistan, and later went to East Pakistan. Considering his experience, he was appointed as the sector commander of Sector 11 which comprised of the Mymensingh District and part of the Rangpur District. The Bangladesh Liberation War (two other names are also used occasionally) refers to a roughly nine-month armed conflict between West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh. ... The Bangladesh Liberation War (two other names are also used occasionally) refers to a roughly nine-month armed conflict between West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ... July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Abbottabad is the principal city of the Abbottabad District in the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan. ... Independent (as part of Pakistan) from British Empire - August 14, 1947 Separated from East Pakistan as Pakistan - March 26, 1971 Capital Karachi Language Urdu, English West Pakistan consisted of the western part of Pakistan from 1947 until 1971, when East Pakistan became Bangladesh and West Pakistan became the present-day... It has been suggested that East Bengal (province) be merged into this article or section. ... Mymensingh is one of the districts of Dhaka division, Bangladesh, and is bordered on the north by Meghalaya state of India and Garo Hills, on the south by Gazipur district, on the east by districts of Netrokona and Kishoreganj, and on the west by districts of Sherpur, Jamalpur and Tangail. ... Rangpur is a district in Northern Bangladesh. ...

One month before the end of the war, Taher was seriously wounded during a battle near Kamalpur on 14 November 1971. His left leg had to be amputated. He was taken to India for treatment. November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ...

Post-liberation activities

Following his treatment in India, Taher returned to independent Bangladesh in April, 1972. He was appointed as the Adjutant General of the newly-formed Bangladesh Army. Later, he was appointed as the commander of the 44th Battalion at the Comilla Cantonment. However, his left-leaning ideas of forming the Bangladesh Army in the model of the Chinese army was not accepted by others, and he left Bangladesh Army and joined Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (National Socialist Party) in late 1972. Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975 in a bloody coup, there were a string of coups and counter coups in the army, which created a sense of dissent among common soldiers. Abu Taher organised a socialist uprising of the soldiers on 7 November 1975. Colonel Taher freed Ziaur Rahman and restored him to the post of army chief. Zia proclaimed himself Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) on 7 November 1975. Abu Taher was arrested on 24 November 1975, because of possible fears of revolt. He was tried by a military tribunal inside the Dhaka Central Jail and was sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging on 21 July 1976. April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... Official flag of Bangladesh Army Bangladesh Army, or Bānglādesh Shenā Bāhini (Bānglā: বাংলাদেশ সেনা বাহিনী) in Bangla, is a branch of Bangladesh Armed Forces. ... Comilla (3085. ... Official flag of Bangladesh Army Bangladesh Army, or Bānglādesh Shenā Bāhini (Bānglā: বাংলাদেশ সেনা বাহিনী) in Bangla, is a branch of Bangladesh Armed Forces. ... Official flag of Bangladesh Army Bangladesh Army, or Bānglādesh Shenā Bāhini (Bānglā: বাংলাদেশ সেনা বাহিনী) in Bangla, is a branch of Bangladesh Armed Forces. ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( 1920 - August 15, 1975), born in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, was a Bengali nationalist leader in East Pakistan and first Prime Minister and President of independent Bangladesh. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Ziaur Rahman(January 19, 1936 - May 30, 1981) was Bangladeshs President. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Dhaka Central Jail is the historic jail located in the old section of Dhaka, Bangladesh. ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

See also

• Bangladesh Liberation War
• Mukti Bahini