Wikipedia

Md. Mahabub Elahi Ronju

Md. Mahabub Elahi Ronju (Bir Protik) (pronounced /ˈɛm ˈdi/ /mɑːhɑːˌbʊb/ /ɛˈlɑːhi/ /ˈrɔndʒu/) (born June 17, 1952) is an esteemed Bangladeshi freedom fighter, who was awarded the national gallantry award "Bir Protik"[1] for his service in the liberation war of 1971 against Pakistan.[2] He is also well-known for his appearances on various media platforms. Currently, he is a businessman.[3]

Md. Mahabub Elahi Ronju, Bir Protik
Md. Mahabub Elahi Ronju (Bir Protik)
Born17 June 1952
Munshipara, Gaibandha Sadar
NationalityBangladeshi
EducationSSC-1968 from Gaibandha Govt. High School, HSC-1970 from Rajshahi Govt. College, B.Sc(Hons) & Masters in Statistics from the University of Rajshahi
Known forFreedom fighter
SpouseMrs. Fatema Zinat
ChildrenTwo sons and one daughter
Parent(s)Late Fazle Elahi and Late Meherun Nessa
AwardsBir Protik

Early life and education

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Ronju was born on June 17, 1952 in Munshipara, Gaibandha Sadar..[4] He is the eldest son of the late Fazle Elahi and the late Meherun Nessa, and the second child in the family. He completed his high school in 1968 from Gaibandha Govt. High School (SSC-1968) and his college from Rajshahi Govt. College on 1970 (HSC-1970). He further pursued his B.Sc. (Hons) degree and master's degree in statistics from the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. [5]

Participation in the Liberation War

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In 1971, when Ronju was a student of the Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, he participated in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. After the declaration of independence of Bangladesh by the Father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ronju joined the "Mukti Bahini" as a Freedom Fighter against the Pakistan Occupation Army in the Gaibandha area. He travelled to India[6][7] to enlist for his military training at Tura of Meghalaya. Upon successful completion of his training, he was selected as a platoon commander. He then commenced a guerilla war against the Pakistan Occupation Army along with his platoon under sector-11, sub-sector Mankarchar. He was awarded as the company commander[8] of the newly formed "Ronju Company" for leading numerous successful military operations.

Notable battles

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Ronju company, led by Ronju, achieved significant victories in several battles, including the battles of Badiyakhali, Balashighat, Rasulpur Sluice Gate, Raydashbarir ghat, Konchipara, Kamarjani, Poolbandi, etc. His company also won the battle of Saporhati, Shundorganj thana area and the battle of Rotonpur and Uriaghat at Fulchari Thana area. His troops fully obliterated the bridges of Badiakhali and Dariyapur in the Gaibandha Sadar Thana area.[9][10] They occupied the Kaiyar haat and Ketkir haat Razakar camp. They also arrested a large number of Razakar and recovered their weapons after a fierce exchange of gunfire. Ronju company captured a plethora of weapons owned by the Pakistan occupation Army from the field and apprehended several Pakistani soldiers. On the 7th of December 1971,[11] Ronju company accomplished a monumental achievement of the Mukti Bahini by capturing the Gaibandha town.[12] [5]

Post-war recognition

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After the liberation war, he was honoured with the national gallantry award 'Bir Protik" by the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.[1][2]

Personal life

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His father, late Fazle Elahi, who was a government officer, died due to the mental and physical atrocities and torments committed by Razakars and the Pakistani army as a result of Ronju's inclusion in the Mukti Bahini. After his father died in 1972, Ronju took the responsibility of his family. In 1985, Ronju married Mrs. Fatema Zinat, and they have two sons and a daughter.[5]

Later life and career

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He is currently a businessman and is actively involved with many social organizations. He is a committed Rotarian[13] and the past president of the Rotary Club of Mukto Swadesh, which was formed with Freedom Fighters only. He is also the vice president of the Khetab Prapto Muktijoddha Association, Gaibandha Samiti. He is also well known for his various media interactions and has been featured on numerous channels, including Shomoy, Channel I, BTV, ATN News,[14] NTV, Nexus Tv, Mohona Tv, Ekushey, etc.

List of activities

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  • Founder Adhunik Nirmata Construction Company (present state - dissolved)[3]
  • Proprietor Hamiro Glass (dissolved)
  • Chairman Axiom Global Education
  • Ex-president 2018-2019 Rotary Club Mukto Swadesh (still active in Rotary)[13]
  • Current Vice President Khetabprapto Muktijoddha Association
  • Current Vice President Gaibandha Samiti

List of media appearances

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References

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  1. ^ a b The Daily Star. "War of Liberation '71: Gaibandha Celebrates Freedom Anniversary." The Daily Star, Sun Dec 8, 2019 12:00 AM, https://www.thedailystar.net/country/news/war-liberation-71-gaibandha-celebrates-freedom-anniversary-1837255. Accessed 15 August 2024. "Former company commander of freedom fighters Mahbub Elahi Ranju (Bir Protik) led the procession that paraded through main streets of the town, reports our correspondent in Gaibandha."
  2. ^ a b "Gaibandha". The History of Bangladesh. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2024. Mahabub Elahi Ronju, Bir Protik (Valiant Freedom Fighter and Company Commander of the "Ronju Company" at Gaibandha area during the great Liberation War 1971)
  3. ^ a b Adhunik Nirmata. "Product Services." TradeIndia, [1](https://www.tradeindia.com/adhunik-nirmata-1609154/product-services.html). Accessed on 15 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Gaibandha Sadar Upazila - Banglapedia".
  5. ^ a b c "Md. Mahabub Elahi Ronju, Bir Protik." *Prothom Alo*. Accessed August 15, 2024. [2]
  6. ^ "More areas to celebrate day of freedom today". The Daily Star. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2024. Taking training in the country and in India, the freedom fighters struggled for freedom of the nation.
  7. ^ "Gaibandha in the War of Liberation". Gaibandha District Portal. Retrieved 15 August 2024. Students and youths crossed the border and went to India for training in guerrilla warfare.
  8. ^ "Gaibandha in the War of Liberation". Gaibandha District Portal. Retrieved 15 August 2024. The company commanders were (1) Rostam Ali Khandaker, (2) Mahbub Elahi Ranju, (3) MN, Nabi Lalu, (4) Aminul Islam Shuja, (5) Khairul Alam, (6) Subedar Altaf Hossain. Besides, Mofizur Rahman Khoka and Mofiz Uddin Sarkar of Gaibandha acted as company commanders in Sector 7.
  9. ^ "Gaibandha Sadar Upazila". Banglapedia. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024. War of Liberation Freedom fighters of the upazila carried out operations at Badiakhali bridge on the road connecting Saghatta with Phulchhari on 27 August 1971 and the Pak army was forced to retreat after the bridge was destroyed.
  10. ^ "War of Liberation: Gaibandha celebrates freedom anniversary". The Daily Star. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2024. Prior to December 6 afternoon, when the allied forces including the freedom fighters marched towards the town from Bangladesh's western border with India accompanied by heavy artillery gunfire, roads and bridges around the area were destroyed by freedom fighters.
  11. ^ "Gaibandha in the War of Liberation". Gaibandha District Portal. Retrieved 15 August 2024. On the other hand, more than one and a half hundred freedom fighters led by the heroic freedom fighter Mahbub Elahi Ranju entered the city from the char of Kalasona on December 7, spending the night at Rauf Mia's house in the village on the outskirts of the city.
  12. ^ "War of Liberation: Gaibandha celebrates freedom anniversary". The Daily Star. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2024. Finally, on the morning of December 7, when the freedom fighters led by commander Mahbub (Bir Protik), followed by the allied forces, entered the besieged town, thousands of locals rejoiced and welcomed them, the speakers said.
  13. ^ a b Distribution of Medicine - Disease Prevention and Treatment by Rotary Club of Mukto Swadesh on 26 January 2018 at Ullum Nurani Hafizia Madrasha and Atim Khana, Bhashantek, Dhaka. Rtn Col Md Moyenul Haque (Retd) MPHF B MD, Rtn Mahabub Elahi Ronju, Bir Protik, IMM Serajul Haque, and Md Hassan were present on the occasion. [Source](https://spc.rotary.org/project?guid=9A4E6AB1-50C5-41AA-983D-87860918A39A#close). Accessed on 15 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Freedom Fighter". YouTube. 26 March 2015.
  15. ^ "Shuvo Shondha | Mahboob Elahi Ronju | Sonia Rifat| EP 5290 | NTV". YouTube. 16 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Shuvo Shondha | শুভসন্ধ্যা | Mahbub Ilahi Ronju | EP 4993 | Talk Show". YouTube. 16 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Mahabub Elahi Ranju, Professor Hosne Ara Begum and Saidur Rahman Tritiyo Matra Episode 4491". YouTube. 29 November 2015.
  18. ^ "EP: 6080 | Lt. Gen. M Harun-Ar-Rashid (Retd.) BP| Mahabub Elahi Ranju | Pro.Dr. Arup Ratan Chowdhury". YouTube. 31 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Tritiyo Matra | Episode 6814 | Professor Dr. Arup Ratan Chowdhury | Mahabub Elahi Ranju". YouTube. 28 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Freedom Fighter". YouTube. 26 March 2015.
  21. ^ "DBC News Uposonghar Part-2 (19/11/2016)". YouTube. 19 November 2016.
  22. ^ "১১ সেক্টরের মুক্তিযুদ্ধ | Sector 11 | 15 December 2021 | Channel 24". YouTube. 15 December 2021.
  23. ^ "বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের ১০২ তম জন্মবার্ষিকী ও খেতাবপ্রাপ্ত বীরমুক্তি যোদ্ধাদের মিলন মেলা". YouTube. 20 April 2022.
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