Why you need to know about the house of Gagan-Ratan

The hustle and bustle of city life has yet to reach Gagan-Ratan's thatched house. 

The house, 'Shamsuddin Kunja', which was built in 1953, is located in the Kalatali area in Keraniganj on the outskirts of Dhaka. 

With an iron sheet roof, the house is surrounded by several trees.  

However, in 1971, at the beginning of the Liberation War, the house had a different ambiance. 

It was frequented by top leaders of the Awami League and full of activities. The leaders also took shelter here when the Pakistani occupied forces launched a sudden attack on the night of March 25.    

It was here that young people of the area were trained for the Liberation War soon after Bangabandhu's March 7 speech. 

On Tuesday noon, this historical house lay tranquil in the sun when this correspondent visited it. There was no sound other than the chirping of birds. 

At present, Borhan Uddin Ahmed Gagan's wife Yakut Ara Ahmed lives in the house. 

In 1971, Yakut Ara Ahmed was a 24-year-old woman. She is now 72. 

Two photographs hanging on the walls still bear witness to the old times. 

One of them, a framed black-and-white one, has Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sitting on an armchair while he is listening to two student leaders – Tofail Ahmed and Borhan Uddin Ahmed Gagan.   

"Following Bangabandhu's March 7 speech, Mahfuz Alam Beg, a Bangali captain of the Pakistan Army, revolted and moved to Dhaka. He visited Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his house in Dhanmondi 32," said Yakut Ara Ahmed. 

"The fleeing captain needed a safe place to stay. And there was only one safe place to hide: The house of Gagan-Ratan. Bangabandhu instructed Beg to go there and he took shelter here," she added. 

Although Captain Beg had come here for shelter, he was not a man to remain silent. 

From March 8 onwards, he stayed in this house and all day long trained young people of the area. 

Shamsuddin Ahmed was the owner of this land during British rule. In 1935, he was awarded the title of 'Khan Saheb'.

He was the leader of the Muslim League till the Liberation War. 

His four children are Anwar Uddin Ahmed (Tota Mia), Arfan Uddin Ahmed Ratan, Borhan Uddin Ahmed Gagan, and Helal Uddin Ahmed Makhan.

Except for the eldest Anwar Uddin Ahmed (Tota Mia), all the other children were involved with the Awami League. 

Gagan became an influential leader of the Chhatra League. Later, he was made the organising secretary of the Dhaka District Awami League. 

On the night of March 25, 1971, Yakut was in Dhaka. 

The next morning, she rushed to Matuail, her father's house, in search of a safe shelter. 

Meanwhile, many top leaders had already left Dhaka and taken shelter in her husband Gagan's house in Keraniganj. 

"Top leaders including Captain Mansur Ali, Tajuddin Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Serajul Alam Khan, Shahjahan Siraj, A S M Abdur Rob, and Nur-e-Alam Siddique also took shelter in this house following the crackdown on March 25," said Mostofa Mohsin Montu, who was then an influential Chhatra League leader. 

"After March 25, all the leaders who came here left for India," he added.

"It was pre-decided that if there was any crackdown, we would meet at Kalatali in the house of Gagan-Ratan, who were our party men. One of them, either Gagan or Ratan, was a member of the legislative assembly," said Nur-e-Alam Siddique, who was the president of Chhatra League in 1971.  

"After reaching Kalatali, I saw Mani Bhai (Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani), Serajul Alam Khan Bhai, Shahjahan Siraj, A S M Abdur Rab, Abdul Quddus Makhan, and some other leaders. They were all present there," added Nur-e-Alam Siddique. 

During the Liberation War, Gagan was made the commander of Mujib Bahini's Dhaka District area. In 1973, he became a member of parliament from Dhaka-11. 

All of the brothers have passed away. They are buried in the family graveyard in front of the house.