View source for Munshi Abdur Rouf

{{Short description|Bangladeshi freedom fighter and recipient of Bir Sreshtho award}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix  = [[File:Bir Sreshtho Medal.png|20px]]
| name          = Munshi Abdur Rouf
| native_name   = মুন্সী আবদুর রউফ
| native_name_lang = ben
| honorific_suffix= [[Bir Sreshtho]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date text|8 May 1943}}
| death_date    = {{death-date and age|8 April 1971 |8 May 1943}}
| birth_place   = [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]], [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]],  [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_place   = [[Rangamati District|Rangamati]], [[Chittagong Division|Chittagong]], Bangladesh
| image         =
| image_size    =
| caption       = [[Lance Nayek]], Munshi Abdur Rouf [[Bir Sreshtho]]
| nickname      =
| allegiance    = {{BAN}}<br />{{PAK}} (Before 1971)
| branch        = {{flagicon image|বর্ডার গার্ড বাংলাদেশের পতাকা.svg}} [[East Pakistan Rifles]]
| serviceyears  = 8 May 1963 – 8 April 1971
| rank          = [[File:Lance Naik of BGB.jpg|15px]] [[Lance Nayek]]
| commands      =
| unit          = [[List of sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War|Sector - I]]
| battles       = [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]{{KIA}}
| awards        = [[File:Bir Sreshtho ribbon.svg|40px]] [[Bir Sreshtho]]
| laterwork     =
}}
'''Munshi Abdur Rouf''' [[Bir Sreshtho|BS]] ({{langx|bn|মুন্সী আবদুর রউফ}}; 8 May 1943 – 8 April 1971) was a [[Lance Nayek]] in the 11th Wing (At present 11 BGB situated in [[Naikhongchhari Upazila|Naikhongchari]], Bandarban) of [[East Pakistan Rifles]] during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaon |first1=Ashif Islam |title=At Pilkhana Darbar Hall, Hasina lauds BGB role |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/dec/21/pilkhana-darbar-hall-hasina-lauds-bgb-role |work=Dhaka Tribune |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> He enlisted in the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May 1963, and was attached with a regular infantry unit during the War of Liberation. Rouf died on 8 April 1971 at Burighat in Chittagong Hill Tracts after causing extensive damage to the Pakistani Army with his machine gun and forcing them to retreat. He was buried at Naniarchor Upazila in [[Rangamati District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bank Protective Work along the Graveyard of Bir Sharsta Munshi Abdur Rouf in Kaptai Lake of Upazila Naniarhcar dist: Rangamati Hill District form Km. 0.00 to 0.070 Km = 70m in Connection |url=http://www.dgmarket.com/tenders/np-notice.do?noticeId=3097059 |website=dgmarket.com |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

He was awarded [[Bir Sreshtho]], which is the highest recognition of bravery in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news |title=War heroes honoured |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/story.php?nid=115066 |work=The Daily Star |agency=UNB |access-date=18 June 2015 |archive-date=18 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618131138/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/story.php?nid=115066 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Campaignbox Bangladesh Liberation War}}

==Early life==
Munshi Abdur Rouf was born on 8 May 1943 at Salamatpur village (renamed Rouf Nagar)<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Birshreshtha Rouf's mother expresses gratitude to govt |url=http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2366678&date=2014-01-09 |website=newstoday.com.bd |publisher=Editor on behalf of Newscorp Publications Limited |access-date=19 June 2015 |archive-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619134137/http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2366678&date=2014-01-09 |url-status=dead}}</ref> under Boalmari thana (currently Madhukhali thana) in [[Faridpur District]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Bir Sreshtha Rouf's mother laid to rest |url=http://newagebd.net/14066/bir-sreshtha-roufs-mother-laid-to-rest/#sthash.BP99ZmXu.dpbs |work=New Age |agency=BSS |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> His father, Munshi Mehedi Hossain, was an "[[Imam]]" at a local mosque, and his mother was Mukidunnesa. He had two sisters, their names were Zahura and Hazera.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alam |first1=Rafiul |title=Unforgettable Heroes of Bangladesh |url=https://www.albd.org/index.php/en/resources/articles/2000-unforgettable-heroes-of-bangladesh |website=Bangladesh Awami League |access-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619120114/https://www.albd.org/index.php/en/resources/articles/2000-unforgettable-heroes-of-bangladesh |archive-date=19 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After his father's death in 1955, Rouf had to stop his education at the eighth grade. He joined the [[East Pakistan Rifles]] on 8 May 1963. He had to increase his age three years to get the job. After the preliminary training at the EPR camp at [[Chuadanga]], Rouf went to West Pakistan to receive advanced training. He was appointed to [[Comilla]] after 6 months. On 25 March 1971, he was in 11 Wing of EPR (at present 11 BGB situated in Naikhongchari, Bandarban) Chittagong.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

==Death==
The East Bengal Regiment wanted to restrict the Pakistani Army from using the Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway. Thus, they camped at both of the Chengi Lakes at Burighat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bir Sreshthos of Liberation War of Bangladesh |url=http://amader-kotha.com/page/330709 |website=amader-kotha.com |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> Rouf was serving as a soldier in this company. To prevent the Pakistani Army from using the [[Rangamati]]-Mahalchari waterway, the Regiment<ref>{{cite news |title=Today is the 41 th anniversary of Bir Munshi Abdur Rouf |url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/04/20/141672 |work=Amar Desh |access-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619154053/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/04/20/141672#.VYPlIfmqqko |archive-date=19 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> constructed a camp on both sides.[[File:Grave of Shahid Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rauf Bir Shreshtho at Burighat, Naniarchar, Rangamati-2.JPG|thumb|Rouf's grave at Burighat, Naniarchar, Rangamati]]

On 8 April 1971, the Pakistani Army attacked the [[Mukti Bahini|Mukti Bahini']]s defensive position with 7 speed boats and 2 launches.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Mostak |title=MOSTAK AHMED March 27, 2012 Famous people in Bangladesh history (Part – I) |url=http://www.bangladesh-travel-assistance.com/famous-people-bangladesh-1/ |website=Bangladesh Travel Assistance |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> Their mission was to drive the Mukti Bahini away from the waterways of Rangamati and Mohalchari. Pakistani forces managed to disorient Mukti Bahini by coming closer to them and firing heavily. In the meantime, Pakistanis surrounded the freedom fighters and managed to isolate nearly 100 of them. Rouf realised the threat to the entire company. So, he crawled forward to his trench and continuously fired towards the enemies with his automatic machine gun, managing to sink all 7 speedboats. As a result, the Pakistani launches retreated to a safer position and resumed firing from there. A [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] hit Rouf directly, and he was immediately killed. Rouf's valiant effort helped his company to survive, as his act saved nearly 150 soldiers of the Mukti Bahini on that day.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

==Legacy==
Bangladesh Rifles College was renamed [[Bir Shrestha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College]] in [[Pilkhana, Bangladesh|Pilkhana]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mia |first1=Sajeeb |title=Heading to 'Baisabi' |url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/lifestyle/news/63713/Heading-to-Baisabi |work=Prothom Alo |access-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619132422/http://en.prothom-alo.com/lifestyle/news/63713/Heading-to-Baisabi |archive-date=19 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abdurroufcollege.ac.bd/ |title=Birshrestha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College |website=Birshrestha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> A monument for Rouf was built by Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB-16) at Shalbagan, midpoint of the Chittagong-Rangamati road, Sapchhari.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chakma |first1=Shantimoy |title=MA Rouf Square in Rangamati |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=73335 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=19 June 2015 |archive-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619112607/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=73335 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A high school in Manikchari Muslim Para, Mahalchhari, [[Khagrachari]] has been named after him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bir Shresto Munshi Abdur Rouf High School |url=http://www.somogrobangladesh.com/bir-shresto-munshi-abdur-rouf-high-school/ |website=Somogro Bangladesh |access-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125222242/http://www.somogrobangladesh.com/bir-shresto-munshi-abdur-rouf-high-school/ |archive-date=25 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A cricket stadium has been named in [[Sylhet]] after him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cricket |url=http://www.nsc.gov.bd/?page_id=818 |website=National Sports Council |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>
A college in [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]] was named after him, which was nationalised by the government.<ref name="auto" />

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Shahid Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rauf Bir Shreshtho Mausoleum at Burighat, Naniarchar, Rangamati-View from North-4.JPG|Shahid Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Bir Shreshtho Mausoleum at Burighat, Naniarchar, Rangamati-View from North
File:Shahid Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rauf Bir Shreshtho Mausoleum at Burighat, Naniarchar, Rangamati-View of island from North.JPG|Shahid Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Bir Shreshtho Mausoleum at Burighat, Naniarchar, Rangamati-View of island from North
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Bir Sreshtho}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rouf, Munshi Abdur}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Bangladeshi military personnel]]
[[Category:People killed in the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bir Sreshtho]]
[[Category:Honorary Fellows of Bangla Academy]]
[[Category:Mukti Bahini personnel]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:History of Bangladesh]]