Shaheed Sheikh Jamal, a teenage freedom fighter, was equally courageous as Bangabandhu. After the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with his family, on the dark night of August 15, 1975, the accomplices of the killer clique launched a vile campaign to distort history. The patrons of the murderers engaged in multifaceted conspiracies to erase Bangabandhu’s name from the proud and glorious history of the Bengali nation and its struggles.
Shaheed Sheikh Jamal: Not only Bangabandhu but also the contributions of his family during the Liberation War were targeted so that people would not learn about their heroic role. Various slanders and falsehoods were spread against the members of Bangabandhu’s family. The main aim of the killers was to prevent Bangladesh from ever rising again with the spirit of the Liberation War and the ideals of Bangabandhu. As a result, the tales of heroism of Bangabandhu’s family members remain unknown to many of today’s generation.
Bangabandhu’s second son, Sheikh Jamal, was a teenage freedom fighter. A proud son of the Bangladesh Army, his courage, patriotism, and ability to win people’s hearts with respect and love can serve as a source of inspiration for the youth. He was born on April 28, 1954, at Tungipara in Gopalganj.
Sheikh Jamal’s upbringing was not as normal as that of most teenagers. In the general elections of March 10, 1954, the United Front won a landslide victory and formed the cabinet on April 2. On May 14, Bangabandhu took oath as a minister, but unfortunately, he was re-arrested on May 30. In his fight to liberate the masses from exploitation and deprivation, Bangabandhu was often deprived of the love of his family, and his children were deprived of a father’s affection.
Spending endless days as a political prisoner, separated from family, brought unimaginable suffering—an agony Bangabandhu Mujib experienced deeply. No one understood better than him how painful it was to be imprisoned without trial and kept away from loved ones. During those tough times, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa spent many days with little Sheikh Jamal enduring immense hardships. Eventually, after many struggles, the family began living together with Bangabandhu at their residence in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Sheikh Jamal completed his matriculation from Dhaka Residential Model College and his intermediate education from Dhaka College.
Growing up in a culturally enriched family environment, Sheikh Jamal had a passion for learning the guitar. He enrolled in a training institute to pursue this hobby. He was also a good cricketer.
Since Bangabandhu spent much of his time in jail, Sheikh Jamal was raised with strong humanitarian values under the guidance of Bangamata and his elder sister, Sheikh Hasina. His political consciousness began to grow while living at their house on Dhanmondi Road 32.
From the writings of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several army officers, we learn that during the Liberation War, Sheikh Jamal, along with other family members, was under house arrest. Nevertheless, on August 5, 1971, he escaped from the barbed-wire confinement of the Pakistani military camp at Dhanmondi to join the Liberation War. Capture would have meant certain death. Braving immense risk and with indomitable courage and patriotism like his father’s, Sheikh Jamal successfully fled under the noses of the Pakistani forces and reached Agartala, India. From there, he traveled to Kolkata and then to Kalshi in Uttar Pradesh.
Along with 80 selected youths of the Mujib Bahini (Bangladesh Liberation Force), Sheikh Jamal received 21 days of special training. After completing the rigorous training, he joined Sector 9.
After the country achieved independence, Sheikh Jamal returned home on December 18, 1971, still wearing his combat uniform. His return brought immense joy to his elder sister Sheikh Hasina, younger sister Sheikh Rehana, and little brother Sheikh Russel—the whole family was overwhelmed with happiness. That very afternoon, Sheikh Jamal attended a rally of freedom fighters at Paltan organized by Bir Uttam Kader Siddique.
On January 10, 1972, when the Father of the Nation returned to Bangladesh, Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal, dressed in military uniforms, welcomed their father.
Following the formation of the Bangladesh Army after independence, Sheikh Jamal became a commissioned officer in the first batch of the long course. In 1974, he attended a cadet training camp at a military academy in Yugoslavia. Later, he also received training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Britain. Inspired by his strong desire to build a career as an army officer, Yugoslav leader Marshal Tito himself encouraged Sheikh Jamal to pursue further training abroad.
After completing his training, Sheikh Jamal joined the Second East Bengal Regiment in Dhaka Cantonment as a Second Lieutenant.
Through his honesty, competence, and sincerity, he won everyone’s admiration. He quickly became popular among both soldiers and senior officers. From ordinary soldiers to high-ranking officials, Sheikh Jamal became a beloved figure. His integrity, patriotism, work dedication, and modest way of life made him a cherished name in everyone’s hearts. For his multifaceted talents and personal virtues, Sheikh Jamal is remembered as a shining part of history among those who knew him.
Sheikh Jamal always showed a deep sense of responsibility in his work. His behavior and speech never revealed that he was the son of a great statesman. He performed duties as the Duty Officer of the battalion. One night, a Subedar even asked him to stay overnight at the barracks due to the late hour. Had he accepted the offer and not returned to Dhanmondi 32 that fateful night, perhaps Bangladesh’s history would have been written differently.
What a cruel twist of fate! The very army he nurtured in his thoughts, dreams, and ideals had a few misguided elements who, supported by Pakistani and American interests, assassinated Sheikh Jamal along with his family members on the night of August 15, 1975.
From April 28, 1954, to August 15, 1975—how many years did Sheikh Jamal live? In just 22 years, the imprint of patriotism and professional excellence he left behind is still spoken of today. Although the distortion of history after Bangabandhu’s assassination kept the achievements of the family hidden from the younger generation, Sheikh Jamal’s heroism remains immortal.
Today, Shaheed Sheikh Jamal rests at Banani Graveyard, alongside his wife Rosi Jamal, who was also martyred that tragic night. They had been married just a month earlier, on July 17. The bullets of the assassins could not erase their memory; rather, their martyrdom immortalized their contributions.
Even as of August 5, 2024, amid political changes, multifaceted conspiracies continue to attempt to erase the glory of Bangabandhu’s family from history. These conspiracies against the Liberation War and Bangabandhu’s family are nothing new. They have never succeeded and never will.
Thus, it can be said with certainty that as a proud son of the Bangladesh Army, Shaheed Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal will forever be remembered as a symbol of fearless patriotism. The Bengali people’s humble respect and love for him will continue to flow from generation to generation.
Writer: Manik Lal Ghosh, Former Vice-President of the Dhaka Journalists’ Union and central executive member of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League.
