ON THIS day in 1969, Professor Dr Syed Mohammad Shamsuzzoha of Rajshahi University was shot and killed by the Pakistani military. Despite extensive discourse on the liberation war and Bangladesh鈥檚 post-independence political landscape, the 1969 mass uprising remains relatively underexplored. Professor Zoha was the first martyr of that movement, his sacrifice marking a pivotal moment in the nation鈥檚 march towards independence.
Dr Zoha鈥檚 legacy as an educator and protector of his students transcends time. While we take pride in his contributions, we also mourn the neglect and lack of state recognition he has received. As an alumnus of Rajshahi University, I am deeply honoured to have studied at an institution that bears witness to the ultimate sacrifice of such a remarkable teacher 鈥� one who stood between his students and gunfire, staining the lush green grounds of Motihar with his blood.
Born on May 1, 1934, Zoha was a renowned academic and associate professor of chemistry at Rajshahi University. He served as the residential teacher of Shah Makhdum Hall from 1965 to 1967 before being appointed as the university鈥檚 proctor. It was in this role, during the anti-Ayub movement, that he met his tragic fate on February 18, 1969. A day before his death, at an event organised by the Bengali department, he stated, 鈥楤efore a bullet hits my students, it must pass through me first.鈥� No one could have imagined he would fulfill this promise with his life the next day.
On February 16, 1969, during Rajshahi University鈥檚 annual sports event, news arrived of the murder of Sergeant Zahurul Haque, one of the accused in the Agartala conspiracy case. Dr Zoha immediately ordered the event to be halted. That same day, students took to the campus streets, demanding justice for Zahurul鈥檚 killing and the withdrawal of the Agartala conspiracy case. Two days later, on the morning of February 18, nearly two thousand students gathered at the university鈥檚 main gate to march toward the city. They were met with a blockade of police, East Pakistan Rifles, and military personnel, who aimed their rifles at the students to deter them. Undeterred, the students pressed forward, tensions escalating as heated arguments ensued.
Dr Zoha and his colleagues attempted to defuse the standoff, pleading with both the students and the military officers to remain calm. He repeatedly urged the military commander, 鈥楶lease don鈥檛 fire. My students will return to the campus shortly.鈥� But the non-Bengali military officer remained hostile, ordering his troops to prepare for firing. As Zoha managed to convince most of the students to retreat, gunfire suddenly erupted. He was shot at close range and brutally bayoneted, succumbing to his injuries at 1:40 pm in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. His martyrdom galvanised the nation, pushing it further toward the inevitable struggle for liberation.
In the wake of his death, Rajshahi University vice chancellor Shamsul Haque convened an emergency meeting with faculty members. It was decided that an under-construction student dormitory would be named after Zoha, and February 18 would be observed as a university holiday in his honour. The government later released a commemorative postal stamp, and in 2008, he was posthumously awarded the Independence Award.听
However, beyond Rajshahi University, Dr Zoha鈥檚 legacy has remained largely unrecognised. While numerous places and institutions across Bangladesh have been named after other martyrs, the first intellectual martyr of the mass uprising deserves national recognition. His contributions to education and national resistance should be enshrined in public consciousness.
For years, Rajshahi University has observed February 18 as 鈥榯eachers鈥� day鈥� in his honour. It is time for the government to take the necessary steps to declare 鈥楽haheed Zoha day鈥� as 鈥榥ational teachers鈥� day鈥�. This recognition would not only honour a true son of the nation but also elevate the status of educators in our country.听
With a university professor as our current head of government and an education adviser who has spent their career in academia, there is no better time to give Zoha the recognition he deserves. Under the leadership of chief adviser Professor Mohammad Yunus, we strongly urge the government to immortalise his legacy by formally declaring February 18 as national teachers鈥� day.
Dr Shamsuzzoha鈥檚 sacrifice is not just a chapter in history 鈥� it is a lesson in courage, integrity, and the enduring power of education. Recognising his legacy at the national level would be a step toward honouring all educators who dedicate their lives to shaping the future of Bangladesh.
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Mohammad Fakhrul Islam is an assistant professor at the Stamford University Bangladesh.