Fifty-three years after independence, many stories of the Liberation War remain untold. Part 5 of this 12-part series turns to Manikchari in Khagrachhari, where an indigenous king opened his palace to refugees, stood by freedom fighters, and fought alongside them -- leaving behind a legacy unlike any other.
Mong Prue Sain, the seventh king of the Mong dynasty, emerged as a symbol of resistance during the Liberation War. He threw his support behind the struggle for freedom. He opened his palace and treasury to shelter refugees and freedom fighters, set up a temporary hospital there, and even fought on the battlefield himself. His actions set a rare and powerful precedent in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
MONG PALACE
In July, this correspondent visited Manikchhari upazila in Khagrachhari to document the role of King Mong Prue Sain and his palace. Conversations with former palace members, freedom fighters, and elderly residents revealed remarkable stories of courage.
The Manikchhari upazila headquarters sits along the Khagrachhari–Chittagong highway. At one end of the local bazaar stands the Mong palace, once the administrative centre of the monarchy. Beside the main building is the Nanuma Devi Memorial Hall, which functioned as a wartime hospital.
After the massacre of March 25, 1971, panic gripped Chittagong district. Civilians fled in fear, and Bangalee soldiers, though initially resisting, were eventually forced to retreat. Many crossed the border seeking refuge in India.
Along the way, thousands found shelter at the Mong palace, where King Mong Prue Sain opened his doors to welcome them.
The palace set up community kitchens to feed refugees and soldiers, and all 150 staff members were drawn into the war effort. Freedom fighters on their way to India for training often stopped there for shelter.
One such freedom fighter, Md Shafi Uddin, now 75, told this newspaper that right after March 7, King Mong Prue Sain began coordinating with Badshah Alam, the freedom fighter organiser in Fatikchhari, and that the royal palace became an essential transit point and base camp.
He remembered: "Many of the refugees who travelled from North Chittagong to India took shelter at the Mong palace, even if only for one night. We freedom fighters initially stayed in the palace for days on end."
Beyond providing food and shelter, Mong Prue Sain's wife, Queen Nihar Devi, also set up a temporary hospital for the wounded refugees and freedom fighters.
Kraingo Khulti Marma, now over 85, who was a domestic help at the palace during the war, said, "There were thousands of people in the palace then; some were refugees, some were freedom fighters. Some would eat and then leave for India; others would stay for several days. We had to cook four or five times for each meal. It was a massive undertaking."
The royal family handed over 33 rifles and ammunition from their own collection to the freedom fighters.
For five weeks, from late March to April, the palace functioned simultaneously as a shelter, hospital, and freedom fighter camp.
FORCED EXODUS
With the Pakistani threat growing continuously, staying at the royal palace became too dangerous for the king and his family. High-ranking officials of the Mukti Bahini and the Mujibnagar Government, therefore, urged the king to move to India via Ramgarh. To prevent the Pakistani army from attacking the king, freedom fighters established a defensive perimeter in Manikchhari.
On April 30, CHT Deputy Commissioner HT Imam sent an urgent letter and a jeep to King Mong Prue Sain, requesting his immediate departure to Ramgarh. Subsequently, the king and his family set off for Ramgarh.
On the same day, Mukti Bahini Commander-in-Chief Colonel MAG Osmani arrived in Ramgarh and ordered Bangalee soldiers to defend the area.
Soon after the king's departure, Pakistani forces attacked the palace. The freedom fighters fought fiercely, yet they couldn't hold their ground for long and eventually had to retreat. Meanwhile, Razakars (local collaborators) looted the Mong palace, destroyed priceless artefacts, and set up a camp inside.
While sheltering in the Ramgarh SDO bungalow, the king met key military figures, Major Mir Shawkat Ali and Captain Rafiqul Islam (later Sector 1 Commander). At that time, King Mong instructed the local indigenous communities to enlist in the war effort.
Later, crossing into India on May 2, he toured refugee camps in Tripura, urging young men to also enlist. Many did, including Kongga Sain Marma of Guimara. Now 70, he recalled: "The king came to our camp and told us to fight. Forty to 50 of us joined battles across several fronts."
RECOGNITION
The story of Mong Prue Sain's participation in the war was prominently featured by international news outlets, most notably the BBC.
The king became a high-value target, with the Pakistani forces offering a substantial reward for his live capture. There were several attempts on his life, all of which failed due to vigilance by freedom fighters and Indian forces.
For security reasons, Mong Prue Sain later moved to Rupaichhari. Having been trained as a marksman, the king maintained his active role in the war effort by training freedom fighters at the Harina camp.
Eventually, he was taken to Agartala, where he met Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Throughout the war, he campaigned across India, raising funds and awareness for Bangladesh's cause.
In October and November, Mong Prue Sain fought alongside Indian forces in several battles, notably at Akhaura in late November. In recognition, the Indian Army awarded him the honorary rank of "Colonel" that very month.
LEGACY
By the time the king returned home at year's end, the palace was in ruins. His grandson, Kumar Suching Prue Chowdhury, recalled, "After independence, we found almost nothing left -- golden Buddhist statues, luxury cars, rare birds, musical instruments, antiques, all gone."
Yet the king himself remained resolute. When family members lamented their losses, he replied: "Yes, we lost much, perhaps even my life could have been taken. But in return, we gained freedom. That is the greatest achievement of my life."
Speaking about the contribution of the king, Sector 1 Commander Major (retd) Rafiqul Islam, Bir Uttam, who is now 82, said, "King Mong's role cannot be overstated. He opened his palace, donated his cars, weapons, and wealth for the cause, and inspired hundreds of indigenous youths to fight. His legacy in the Liberation War will remain unforgettable."
SOURCES
All accounts of King Mong Prue Sain's contributions to the Liberation War have been drawn from historical texts and witness testimonies.
Key documentary references include "Bangladesher Swadhinota Juddho - Sector Bhittik Itihash (Sector-1)" and Swadhinota Juddho: Dolil Potro (Volume 9). In addition, specialised works such as "Muktijuddhe Adibasi" by Ayub Hossain and Charu Haque, and "Adibasi Muktijoddha" by Tapan Kumar Dey, provided further context.
