Samir Uddin, a car driver of Mian Abdur Rashid, used to carry 'Sheikh Saheb', a title commonly used for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, elsewhere in the country in the car.
Octagenarian Samir Uddin, son of late Manir Uddin Biswas of Nrisinghapur village under Jhenaidah Sadar upazila informed he had been serving as a driver of Mian Abdur Rashid, a business magnet of Daulatpur of Khulna. He (Rashid) was a Muslim League leader and was an elected Member of the National Assembly (MNA). He was also one of the closest friends of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, then popularly known as 'Sheikh Saheb'.
Samir Uddin continues Sheikh Saheb usually arrived Khulna by launch from Tungipara and used to reside at his younger brother Sheikh Abu Naser’s house at Tutpara.
He served him food and he ate with others by sitting on the mat instead of using a dining table. Samir accompanied Sheikh Saheb from 1962 to 1970.
Often Miah Abdur Rashid asked Samir to carry Sheikh Saheb from the launch terminal ghat. 'He (Sheikh Saheb) often put his hand on my
head and blessed me to stay safe. Then we started our journey to meet the leaders at the gathering,' recollected Samir.
Samir further informed, once Sheikh Saheb was addressing a public meeting at the Hadis Park in Khulna. 'I had been waiting for him by opening the door of my car. Suddenly, the 'great man' arrived and said he might be detained right then. He advised me to drive fast to reach Mashiur Rahman’s house in Jashore. He further said Monayem Khan had phoned Sabur Khan to detain him.'
As per the instruction, I arrived at Mashiur Rahman’s house at Jashore by risking our lives and saw the house was surrounded by police. The policemen held Sheikh Saheb from the house of Mashiur. I followed the police order to carry Sheikh Saheb in Dhaka. However, he was released on bail later on.
Samir added while Sheikh Saheb was arrested following the historical Agartala conspiracy case, he carried his wife, two daughters and Mashiur Rahman to see him in the court at the cantonment area.
During the War of Liberation, occupying forces had torched his house in Jhenidah and he started to live at Kaliganj town and continued to work as a truck driver at Mobarakganj Sugar Mills.
Samir Uddin is also a renowned flute (bamboo made flute) player and he was honoured with a prize from the Shilpakala Academy of Jhenaidah last year.
Now, Samir Uddin's only desire is to meet the daughter of Sheikh Saheb, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said, 'I do not seek any assistance from her but wish to pay a glimpse at her only.'
