বাংলা 
English 
Martyred Sheikh Didar Ali (birth: unknown, death: 1971) was a heroic freedom fighter of Bangladesh's War of Independence. For his courage in the Liberation War, the Government of Bangladesh awarded him the title of Bir Pratik.
Martyred Sheikh Didar Ali was born in the village of Aruapara in Kushtia Sadar upazila. He was unmarried. His father's name was Sheikh Nurul Islam and his mother's name was Sufia Khatun.
Alongside his studies, Sheikh Didar Ali worked at the Kushtia telephone office. He was an SSC examinee in 1971. When the Liberation War broke out he plunged into the fighting. After taking an active part in the resistance war, he went to India. Trained there, he fought in the Shikarpur sub-sector of Sector 8.
This is the story of the village of Durbachara, near Banshitola in Kushtia Sadar upazila, on 5 September 1971. Sheikh Didar Ali and a group of freedom fighters, after training in India, had crossed the border and come to Bangladesh a few days earlier. Their position was in a secret camp in Kushtia Sadar upazila. One day they received news that a party of the Pakistan army had come into their area and was tormenting the villagers. But the freedom fighters did not know the strength of the Pakistani soldiers; they had only vague news of it through the affected villagers. To attack without knowing the enemy well is dangerous. But they could not sit idle while the villagers were in peril. The freedom fighters' group leader decided to attack the Pakistani soldiers. He discussed it with his comrades.
Sheikh Didar Ali and all his comrades agreed on this. The freedom fighters' weapons were SLRs, a sten gun and rifles. Besides these there were a few grenades. The number of rounds, too, was limited. If the Pakistan army counter-attacked, they would not have the strength to withstand it for long. Yet they did not lose heart. Getting ready quickly, they set out for the perilous ground. Within a short while they came face to face with the Pakistani soldiers. Pakistani soldiers and Razakars together outnumbered the freedom fighters. All of them were gathered in one place. Having tormented the innocent villagers, they were just then preparing to set out towards the town. With them were some local accomplices too — that is, Razakars. Much of the loot plundered from the village lay heaped up there. Three or four Razakars stood guard, while the Pakistani soldiers were busy dividing the plundered goods among themselves. Having met no obstruction for so long, they were all off their guard. The freedom fighters seized this opening and attacked by surprise. Stunned by the sudden assault were the Pakistani soldiers and the Razakars. But they — especially the Pakistani soldiers — recovered themselves within moments and began a counter-attack. The freedom fighters were not daunted by this. With their limited means they faced the Pakistani assault with immense valour. The frontal battle went on. The Pakistani soldiers were firing like rain, and it became a great struggle for the freedom fighters to raise their heads. Sheikh Didar Ali was not unsettled by this. He went on fighting with courage. But he could not hold out for long. Suddenly a bullet fired by the Pakistanis struck his chest. He collapsed to the ground, and within moments the lamp of his life went out.
