Mohammad Shamsuzzoha (; 1 May 1934 – 18 February 1969) was a

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

writer, professor and proctor at

Rajshahi University The University of Rajshahi (), also known as Rajshahi University (RU), is a Public university, public research university located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is the second oldest and third largest university in Bangladesh. The university's 59 ...

. Shamsuzzoha was the first university teacher in erstwhile

East Pakistan East Pakistan was the eastern province of Pakistan between 1955 and 1971, restructured and renamed from the province of East Bengal and covering the territory of the modern country of Bangladesh. Its land borders were with India and Burma, wit ...

(now Bangladesh) who was killed by the Pakistani Military forces at the eve of 1969 revolution movement of East Pakistan, which ultimately became the

Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...

. In 2008, he was awarded the

Independence Day Award The Independence Award (), formally known as the Independence Day Award or Swadhinata Padak (), is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977 by President Ziaur Rahman, this award is bestowed upon Banglade ...

Early life

He was born in

Onda, Bankura Onda is a village in Onda CD block in the Bankura Sadar subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India. Geography Location Onda is located at . Area overview The map alongside shows the Bankura Sadar subdivision of B ...

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

. After the partition of Bengal, he migrated to erstwhile

East Bengal East Bengal (; ''Purbô Bangla/Purbôbongo'') was the eastern province of the Dominion of Pakistan, which covered the territory of modern-day Bangladesh. It consisted of the eastern portion of the Bengal region, and existed from 1947 until 195 ...

in 1950. He passed his matriculation exam in 1948 from Bankura Zilla School and passed ISc in 1950 from Bankura Christian College. He achieved BSc (honours) degree in chemistry in 1953 and MSc in 1954 from

Dhaka University The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka was founded in 1921 ...

. Mohammad Shamsuzzoha also participated bravely in the

Bengali Language Movement The Bengali language movement was a political movement in East Bengal (modern-day Bangladesh) in 1952, advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as a co-lingua franca of the then-Dominion of Pakistan to allow its use in government ...

during his university life. In 1964 he obtained his PhD degree from

Imperial College London Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a Public university, public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a Al ...

.After the partition of India he migrated to the East Bengal.
,

Career

At first Mohammad Shamsuzzoha joined Rajshahi University as a Development Officer in 1961 and on that year he also became lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. He was promoted as Reader of the Chemistry Department. On 1 May 1968 he received the Proctor post of the university. He was the first university teacher who was martyred from 1947 to 1969. Graveyard of Mohammad Shamsuzzoha 04

Death

Following the murder of Sergeant Zahurul haq in custody, one of the accused convict of

Agartala Conspiracy Case The Agartala Conspiracy Case was a sedition case in Pakistan during the rule of Ayub Khan (general), Ayub Khan against Awami League, brought by the government of Pakistan in 1968 against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the then leader of the Awami Lea ...

on 15 February, the students of Rajshahi University started staging demonstration. On 17 February the students were injured by the Pakistani police. On the same day local administration imposed section 144 on Natore-Rajshahi Highway near to Rajshahi University. When the students violated the section, the Pakistani army was deployed to shoot the students, but Shamsuzzoha talked with them and urged them not to fire. When the tension grew, the army fired on Shamsuzzoha. He was taken to the hospital and died there. A memorial sculpture was built right beside the Shahid Shamsuzzoha Hall, called "Sfulinga" for Dr. Shamsuzzoha as a symbol of respect.

Legacy

Mohammad Shamsuzzoha was buried on front of the administration building of Rajshahi University. His death added a new dimension in the anti-Ayub mass movement, as well as the fall of Ayub government was quickened. 18 February is observed as ''Shahid Zoha Dibos'' (Martyr Zoha Day) in Bangladesh. A student hall of the University of Rajshahi was named as ''Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall'' in commemoration of his highest sacrifice for the cause of the nation.

References

1934 births 1969 deaths Academic staff of the University of Rajshahi University of Dhaka alumni Alumni of Imperial College London People from Bankura district Causes and prelude of the Bangladesh Liberation War Protest-related deaths Recipients of the Independence Award {{Bangladesh-academic-bio-stub