The story you are about to read is one of survival, loss, and hope. It is the story of my escape from the war that changed my life forever-the war of Liberation in East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh.
I was just a young man living in Chittagong when the war began in 1971. The sounds of war were unfamiliar to me at first, the rumbling of tanks and the distant crackle of gunfire. It wasn't until my city became a battlefield that I realized the brutal reality of what was happening. The people I grew up with and the streets I once knew so well were now filled with fear, uncertainty, and violence.
I watched as my world fell apart. My family was scattered, my friends lost or gone. But even in those dark moments, something inside me kept pushing me forward. The desire to survive, to escape, and to find a new life became stronger than the terror that surrounded me.
The journey from Chittagong to Calcutta was not easy. I had no idea if I would make it, but I knew I had no other choice. Every step was filled with uncertainty. I hid in the shadows, avoided soldiers, and relied on the kindness of strangers. There were times when hope seemed far away, but each time I felt like giving up, something like a person, a memory, or a fleeting moment of peace reminded me why I had to keep going.
This book is not just about war. It is about the power of the human spirit and about the bonds we share even in the most trying times. Yes, it is a story of loss, but also of the quiet strength that keeps us going even when everything seems lost.
I survived. And this is my story.
