FCC story
Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed's write-up in your April 26 issue on the 50th anniversary of Faujdarhat Cadet College (FCC) brings back a well of memories. I was not a Faujian - but my younger brother Tanwir was in the first batch of class VII in 1958. There was nothing much for outing in Chittagong in those days - except going to Patenga sea beach. So, when my brother was accepted in the very first batch in 1957, we began visiting Faujdarhat to have glimpses of how a cadet college looked like where my brother would be studying for the next few years! If I recollect correctly, it was Mr. Moidul Islam who was supervising the activities at that time as acting principal until Col. Brown arrived in 1958. Capt. Moshrul Hoque was the first Adjutant cum teacher.
There used to be a Parents' Day - quite regularly at that time. My parents & brothers & sister would eagerly count days when the Parents' Day would arrive. The day would appear like an Eid Day as the college used to be decorated with festoons & flags with the students in their best to impress their parents as well as the visitors coming from all corners. There were games between students & parents.
Col. Brown would make efforts to meet as many guardians as he could & would proudly tell my father how Tanwiah (Tanwir) would keep his opponents only with his left jab without having to use his right while boxing! Early last month, I met Retd Brig.Gen. MS Bari. He asked me about my brother Tanwir. Somewhat surprised, I inquired how he knew Tanwir. His prompt reply was that he was his student at Faujdarhat Cadet College. He then went on naming scores of people, quite a number of whom I knew as students of FCC. Teachers remembering names of students & their individual habits 50 years after - well, that's one of the many things that made Faujdarhat Cadet College so special!
If someone can owe his life to a mortal soul, then I owe my life to a Faujian by the name of Enam Zafri. Dr. Fakhruddin may remember him. He joined FCC in the Intermediate class & later joined me in Chittagong College after passing Intermediate to finish graduation. I was picked up by the Pak Navy personnel on August 31, 1971 around 1:30pm from my O.R. Nizam Road house & taken to the Naval Base at Patenga & was charged with 'harbouring' naval commandos in the ground floor of my building, who had blown up some ships on August 14/15. After their initial 'hospitality' at the base, at around 3:00am in the morning I was taken out of the Guard Room cell (I thought to be shot) & there in the adjacent room was my friend Enam Zafri. One Naval Intelligence officer handed me over to Enam with strict instruction that I was not to go out of Chittagong without written permission from that officer. Later I learnt that several people were involved in getting me released - all non-Bengalis - but there was only one person who had come forward to drive about 12 miles through curfew in the middle of the night to collect me from the base - it was my friend Enam Zafri - the old Faujian.
Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed is so right that Faujdarhat Cadet College has been producing brilliant people, but regarding his comment about FCC producing a foreign minister, may I say that FCC groomed him to become a Bar-at-Law.
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