Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway

Munshi Abdur Rouf
Lance Nayek , Munshi Abdur Rouf Bir Sreshtho
Native name	মুন্সী আবদুর রউফ
Born	8 May 1943 (1943-05-08) Salamatpur village, Boalmari thana (currently Madhukhali thana), Bengal Presidency, British Raj
Died	8 April 1971 (1971-04-09) (aged 27) Burighat,Naniyachar ,Rangamati.
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Years of service	8 May 1963 – 8 April 1971
Rank	Lance Nayek
Unit	East Pakistan Rifles
Battles/wars	Bangladesh Liberation War
Awards	Bir Sreshtho

Munshi Abdur Rouf (Bengali: মুন্সী আবদুর রউফ; 8 May 1943 – 8 April 1971) was a Lance Nayek in the East Pakistan Rifles during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He enlisted in the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May 1963, and was attached with a regular infantry unit during the War of Liberation. Rouf died on 8 April 1971 at Burighat in Chittagong Hill Tracts after causing extensive damage to the Pakistani Army with his machine gun and forcing them to retreat. He was buried at Naniarchor Upazila in Rangamati District.

He was awarded Bir Sreshtho, which is the highest recognition of bravery in Bangladesh.

Munshi Abdur Rouf was born on 8 May 1943 at Salamatpur village (renamed Rouf Nagar) under Boalmari thana (currently Madhukhali thana) in Faridpur District. His father Munshi Mehedi Hossain was an "Imam" at a local mosque and his mother was Mukidunnesa. He had two sisters, their names were Zahura and Hazera. After his father's death in 1955, Rouf had to stop his education at the eighth grade. He joined the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May 1963. He had to increase his age three years to get the job. After the preliminary training at the EPR camp at Chuadanga, Rouf went to West Pakistan to receive advanced training. He was appointed to Comilla after 6 months.

The East Bengal Regiment wanted to restrict the Pakistani Army from using the Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway. Thus, they camped at both of the Chingri Lakes at Burighat. Rouf was serving as a soldier in this company. To prevent the Pakistani Army from using the Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway, the Regiment constructed a camp at both sides.

On 8 April 1971, the Pakistani Army attacked the Mukti Bahinis defensive position of with 7 speed boats and 2 launches. Their mission was to drive the Mukti Bahini away from the waterway of Rangamati and Mohalchari. Pakistani forces managed to disorient Mukti Bahini by coming closer to them and firing heavily. In the meantime Pakistanis surrounded the freedom fighters and managed to isolate nearly 100 of them. Rouf realised the threat to the entire company. So, he crawled forward to his trench and continuously fired towards the enemies with his automatic machine gun. As a result, the Pakistanis dragged their launches back to a safer place and resumed firing from there. Suddenly a mortar hit Rouf directly and he was immediately killed. Rouf's valiant effort helped his company to survive as his act saved nearly 150 soldiers of the Mukti Bahini on that day.