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Sheikh Russell: the eternal prince of unfinished stories!

  • Open Discussion
  • Lead News
  • 17 October, 2022 23:34:00

Photo: Collected

Imdadul Haque Sohag: The one who gave us the word freedom with the message of breaking the shackles of the century, from undivided India to Pakistan, from Pakistan to Bangladesh, who was uncompromising on questions of principles and ideals, against exploitation, discrimination and injustice. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bengali father of the nation, is deeply embedded in the memory of the people of Bengal. Sheikh Russell is the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Fazilatun Necha Mujib and younger brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He was born on September 18, 1964 in house number 32 of Dhanmondi, the pilgrimage site of politics. After seven long years, there was a different kind of joy because of the arrival of a new guest in the Bangabandhu family. While reminiscing about the time of Russell's birth, Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina wrote in the book "Our Little Russell Sona", "The moments before the birth of Russell were very anxious." Ami, Kamal, Jamal, Rehana and Khoka Chacha at home. With elder brother and sister-in-law. A doctor and nurse also came. Time does not pass. Jamal and Rehana sleep for a while and then wake up. We wake up with sleepy eyes waiting to hear the news of the arrival of a new guest. Mezh Fufu came out of the house and informed us that our brother has died. We lose ourselves in happiness. How long will I see? Fufu said, he will call. After a while the call came. Big uncle put Russell in my lap. A head full of thick black hair. Fluffy soft cheeks. Russell grew up quite a lot.” Russell naming also has a beautiful history. Both Bangabandhu and Bangamata read books when they had time, were admirers of Nobel laureate scientist, philosopher Bertrand Russell. Bangabandhu and Bangamata had already decided that if they had a son, he would name him Russell after the name of the ambassador of peace, Bertrand Russell. And Bertrand Russell was not only a philosopher but also a scientist. Also a major world leader in the anti-nuclear war movement. And Bertrand Russell formed the 'Committee of Hundred' to protect world peace. Bertrand worked to make people's lives beautiful and peaceful. In 1962, two years before the birth of Sheikh Russell, there was a war of nerves and diplomacy between American President Kennedy and Soviet Prime Minister Khrushchev over Cuba. At one point that war of nerves and diplomacy was leading to a truly horrific World War III. Then, the famous philosopher Bertrand Russell emerged as a symbol of global humanity. He became vocal in stopping a possible civilization-destroying World War III. He became a protester. World public opinion was formed in favor of Russell's argument. Kennedy-Khrushchev at one point was forced to withdraw from a belligerent attitude. So Russell was named after the great Bertrand Russell. Father Mujib must have had a great dream or desire around this name. Father Mujib may have dreamed that his little son would one day shine with his talent. Will be a writer, a philosopher or a new leader of world peace. If we analyze the short life of the little martyr Russell, we can see that. He was a man of great courage, humanitarian and political sense. Baby Russell spent most of his life without his father. Because his father was a political prisoner and was in prison for a long time. Not being able to see his father, Russell used to address his mother Fazilatunnesha Mujib as Abba. Just as the little child Russell felt this pressure, so did his father Bangabandhu. "On February 8, the 2-year-old boy came and said, 'Dad, go home.' What answer will I give him? I tried to forget him and he does not understand that I am imprisoned. I told him, 'Go to your mother's house. I live in my house. Come to see me again. What he wants to understand! How will this little boy, with his weak hands free from this stone wall! I feel sad. Even though I am a man and his birth. Other children have learned to understand. But Russell has not yet learned to understand. So sometimes he wants to take me home." Bangabandhu's autobiography reveals his inner suffering for his son. Bangabandhu was in jail as a royal prisoner since the 1966 6-point movement. Russell won't leave his father behind when they visit him in prison. That's why he was upset. Bangabandhu wrote about Russell in his prison diary on June 15, 1966, "Russell, who is 18 months old, does not smile when he comes to the prison office - until he sees me. I saw from a distance shouting 'Abba Abba' as before. A cargo truck entered through the jail gate. So I stood at the window and kissed her. After a while, Russell grabbed my neck and laughed as I walked in. They said they just looked at the window until I came, saying 'father's house'. Now it is thought that it is his father's house. When it's time to go, he has to dodge." We can learn many things from the book 'Ahr Chhota Russell Sona' written by Honorable Prime Minister Deshratna Sheikh Hasina about her beloved younger brother Russell. On page 21 of the book, he reminisced about visiting Bangabandhu in prison and wrote, We used to visit Abba every fortnight. When Russell was taken away, he did not want to come again. He used to cry a lot. It was explained to him that we have come to visit Abba's house in Jail. We will go to our house. It was very difficult to bring him. Then we could understand the state of mind of Abba. Even at home, if he cried for his father, his mother would tell him, I am your father. Call me father. Thus at one time mother was called Abba. One day when he heard me calling my father, he said smile, smile, I call your father a little father. Through this book of Bangabandhu's daughter, we can also know about Sheikh Russell's political awareness. "Little Russell asked his mother one day, "Mother won't go to father? Mother doesn't give any answer. What will Dibe do when his father Bangabandhu was detained by the Pakistani military junta for six months in the cantonment. No one knew any news about his whereabouts? The boy was only in his chest. Mother pulled her and hugged her. Russell again asked mother, "Mom, will Abbar be hanged? What is hanging?" Mother said, "Who told you that, father?" Russell replied, "I heard that uncle, brother-in-law and Kamal bhai said that, mother. He was so politically aware." Russell used to chant Jai Bangla slogans when he visited his father in jail. Even on the day of the hartal, he stood on the front lawn of the house and chanted hartal hartal in support of the hartal. On August 15, 1975, at the age of 10 years, 9 months and 27 days, he was killed by the hands of murderers along with the father of the nation Bangabandhu and other members of the family. There have been many political assassinations in the world over the ages but such ruthless, brutal and demonic murders are rare in the history of the world. According to the eyewitness Bangabandhu's personal assistant AFM Mohitul Islam, the 11-year-old child Russell slept like every other day. He was woken up by a sudden gunshot. He startled with sleepy eyes. Understanding the situation, Begum Mujib asked Adar's Dulal Russell to leave through the back door along with the housekeepers. The killers arrested him while going out through the back gate. At this time, hearing the sound of bullets, terror and screams inside the house, the unconscious child Russell cried to the killers in a crying voice, "I will go to my mother." Later, after seeing his mother's body, he tearfully pleaded, "Send me to Hasu Apar (Sheikh Hasina)." Mother, father, two brothers, brother's wife, uncle walked past the corpses and finally killed Russell brutally. Even the desire of the little innocent child could not melt the minds of the beasts. "Why did you take my Russell so hard? Will I ever get the answer to this 'why'?" Bangabandhu's daughter's desire filled 'why' who will answer? Russell was the son of Sheikh Mujib, the architect of independence, which was perhaps his only and greatest crime. The day of Shaheed Russell's death was supposed to shine in the ideals of his father. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was supposed to go to Dhaka University on the occasion of convocation on August 15. 6 members of the University Laboratory School were selected to salute Bangabandhu. One of them is fourth grader Sheikh Russell. But Bangabandhu was not saluted by him. If Sheikh Russell had been alive today, he would have been a perfect man, maybe he would have been the greatest strength of the honorable Prime Minister today, he would have participated in the construction of Bangabandhu's dream of 'Golden Bangla'. Vision 2021, 2030, 2041, Delta Plan, Fourth Industrial Revolution Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Sajib Wazed Joy are working for the welfare of the country now, if they were alive, they would undoubtedly have devoted themselves to the country. He might have been a scientist or a professor or a father of the nation to establish world peace. Or he could have been a symbol of global humanity shining in self-glory like Bertrand Russell. The assassins thought that keeping any legacy of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu could become a thorn in their path in the future. The murderers wanted to wipe out Bangabandhu's legacy by killing Sheikh Russell. Their attempt failed completely. Because the cursed bullets of the killers may not know that those who live in love, death cannot touch them. Therefore, people with a sense of human consciousness will keep the pain of martyr Sheikh Russell in their hearts and work for children forever. Every story of Sheikh Russell's life should be spread among the children and youth of this country. Then Sheikh Russell will be a source of motivation for billions of children and youth of Bangladesh. Martyr Sheikh Russell is not dead, he will live in the hearts of every Bengali as a great child of history. Happy birthday, Martyr Sheikh Russell! Author- Imdadul Haque Sohag Assistant Provost, Sheikh Russell Hall. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University-Gopalganj.

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