Colonel Taher ( Mohammad Abul Taher) was a sector commander in the War of Liberation.  He was honoured with the gallantry award ‘Bir Uttam’ for his valour in the War of Liberation.

Early life and education

Colonel Taher was born in Badarpur, Assam on November 14, 1938. His ancestral village was Kazla in Purbadhala, Netrokona. After completing higher secondary school from Murari Chand College in Sylhet, Taher joined the Pakistani Army in September 1960. He was married to Lutfa Taher.

Colonel Taher joins the Liberation War

In July 1971, he crossed the border from Abotabad, Pakistan and joined the War of Liberation. He was appointed the sector commander of Sector 11 comprising Mymensingh and part of Rangpur districts. He was seriously wounded on 14 November 1971 while launching an attack on enemy camp at Kamalpur, known as the gateway to Dhaka. His left leg was blown off from above the knee.

After medical treatment in India Abu Taher came back to Bangladesh in April 1972, and was appointed the Adjutant General of Bangladesh Army. In June 1972, Taher was made commander of 44th battalion and commanding officer of Comilla cantonment. He resigned from the army in September 1972 on the issue of his difference with the government on some principle relating to the National army.

Formation of JASAD

Colonel Taher joined in politics in October 1972 and was elected the vice president of central organising committee of Jatiya Samajtantric Dal. After the tragic killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975 by a group of army officers, there were a string of coups and counter coups in the army, and this created a commotion among the general soldiers. In this backdrop, Abu Taher organised an uprising of the soldiers and public on 7 November 1975. Abu Taher was arrested on 24 November (1975). He along with other 34 was tried by a military tribunal inside the Dhaka Central Jail and was sentenced to death. His death penalty was executed by hanging on 21 July 1976.

Source

1. Banglapedia