Recently, allegations surfaced at the National Freedom Fighters’ Council (Jamuka) questioning whether Apel Mahmood, the singer and composer of the timeless song “Mora Ekta Phul Ke Bachabo Bole Juddho Kori” from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, was indeed a freedom fighter. To refute these claims, Mahmood appeared before Jamuka’s hearing at Comilla Circuit House on Monday and presented evidence proving he was a frontline combatant.
During the hearing, Apel Mahmood stated that in 1971, he fought with arms against Pakistani forces in various areas, including Narsingdi, Ashuganj, Bhairab, and Habiganj, under Captain Matiur Rahman and later Captain Nasim in Sector 3. He sustained an injury near his left eye during the war and was later taken to Agartala before being assigned important duties at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra in Kolkata.
After the hearing, Apel Mahmood told reporters, “Those who claimed I was not a freedom fighter have been proven wrong, and the members of the National Freedom Fighters’ Council have expressed regret over the false allegation.”
Jamuka’s Director General Shahina Khatun confirmed that the documents submitted by Mahmood clearly prove his participation in direct combat. He has been recognised not just as a radio worker but as a “Bir Muktijoddha” who fought on the frontlines.
Present at the hearing were his wife Nasrin Mahmud, fellow wartime “shobdo shoinik” Monoranjan Ghoshal, and several other freedom fighters. Apel Mahmood was honoured with the Ekushey Padak in 2005 for his contributions to patriotic songs.
