Dr. Syed Muhammad Shamsuzzoha: The Name of an Immortal

Dr Syed Muhammad Shamsuzzoha is not merely a name inscribed in history; he represents an enduring moral force in Bangladesh’s intellectual and political consciousness. A university teacher who transcended the conventional bounds of academic duty, he became a symbol of courage, ethical responsibility and ultimate sacrifice.

Though many in subsequent generations never saw him in person, his presence remains palpable on the campus of University of Rajshahi. He was killed fourteen years before some of his later admirers enrolled there, yet his grave, situated before the university’s Administrative Building at what is now known as “Joha Square”, continues to evoke a silent exhortation: stand firm in the cause of justice.

The Uprising of 1969

The backdrop to his martyrdom was the mass uprising of 1969 in what was then East Pakistan. On 15 February, the death of Sergeant Zahurul Haq in custody intensified nationwide protests against the regime of Ayub Khan. Universities became epicentres of dissent.

On 18 February, students at Rajshahi prepared to defy Section 144, which prohibited public assembly. As Proctor, Dr Shamsuzzoha recognised the grave risk of confrontation with armed forces stationed at the main gate. Determined to prevent bloodshed, he placed himself between the soldiers and his students.

Eyewitness accounts record his plea: “Please do not fire; my students will return immediately.” The appeal went unheeded. When troops opened fire, he advanced in an attempt to shield the students and was shot.

The previous day, he had reportedly shown students his bloodstained shirt and declared that if bullets were to be fired, they should strike him rather than his pupils. This was not rhetoric but a solemn pledge, fulfilled within twenty-four hours.

Neglect and Death

After being wounded, he was transported by military vehicle to a municipal office and left without prompt medical attention. He was later taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where he died in the operating theatre at approximately 4:00 pm on 18 February 1969.

His death is widely regarded as one of the rare recorded instances in modern history of a university teacher sacrificing his life to protect students from state violence.

Biographical Overview

He was posthumously awarded the Independence Award in 2008, the highest civilian honour of Bangladesh, recognising both his academic contributions and his moral heroism.

Enduring Legacy

He was laid to rest on the Rajshahi campus. A residential hall bears his name, ensuring that successive generations encounter his story not as distant history but as living heritage.

For decades, teachers and students have called for 18 February to be declared a national Teachers’ Day, arguing that his sacrifice encapsulates the noblest ideals of the profession: that a teacher’s responsibility extends beyond instruction to the safeguarding of students’ lives and liberties.

Dr Shamsuzzoha’s legacy is therefore not confined to memorial plaques. It endures as a moral benchmark—an affirmation that intellectual leadership demands courage, and that education, at its highest, is inseparable from conscience.

Author: Editor and Publisher "Khaborwala and G Live 24"