Village Boy to Accidental Soldier

Village Boy Becomes War Hero

A poor but determined village boy in East Pakistan, today's Bangladesh, walked to college because he had no money for bus ride. One day, watching a young crowd jockeying to enroll in the air force, he immediately joined the line. He became one of the 18 successful candidates out of nearly 500. He later switched to army for better career prospects and became a captain within a short time. He worked in the western half of Pakistan.

In early 1971, when Pakistan Army killed thousands of people in its Eastern part, the people there started a war of independence. The death and sufferings of his people pinched the heart of the village-boy captain. He decided to join fellow Bengalis in their fight for independence.

In his fourth attempt, the captain finally succeeded to escape in a military Jeep across the border to India. But he met a serious disaster. In the darkness of night, the Jeep overturned and sank into a river with the captain trapped in it. After much difficulty, he managed to come out alive. India treated him well and sent him to the war front in Bangladesh.

The captain organized and trained an artillery unit and fought bravely against the Pakistan Army, which surrendered in December 1971. Our village boy captain became a decorated war hero in Bangladesh.

That captain is Rashed Chowdhury. He is our grandfather. We are proud of him.

Audrika Chowdhury, 7th Grade,
Aunik Chowdhury, 4rd Grade,
Mina Chowdhury, 3rd Grade
(2021)