Fazle Rabbee (1932–1971)

Dr Mohammad Fazle Rabbee, a distinguished Professor of Clinical Medicine and Cardiology at Dhaka Medical College, was revered not only for his medical brilliance but also for his moral courage. A lifelong believer in justice and human dignity, he rejected a nomination for Pakistan's Best Professor Award in 1970—a quiet but resolute act of conscience that reflected his political clarity and ethical resolve.

The car used by Dr Fazle Rabbee during the Liberation War. Courtesy: Liberation War Museum

During the Liberation War of 1971, Dr Rabbee emerged as one of the medical profession's most steadfast allies of the resistance. He treated wounded freedom fighters, victims of torture, and women subjected to violence, extending care even to Urdu-speaking Biharis when others turned away. His commitment to humane treatment and equal rights was unwavering, shaped by a long history of activism that traced back to the Language Movement.

Among the objects he left behind, his Morris Minor car stands as one of the most powerful symbols of his bravery. It was more than a vehicle; it became a moving lifeline of liberation. Dr Rabbee used it to transport injured freedom fighters, deliver medicines, and quietly support underground networks. At times, he handed the car over to freedom fighters for their missions, never asking questions and never revealing identities—even when threatened.

A blood pressure machine used by Fazle Rabbee. Courtesy: Liberation War Museum

On 15 December 1971, Al-Badr men abducted Dr Rabbee from his residence in Siddheswari. His body was later recovered from the Rayerbazar Killing Field. He was murdered in the final hours before victory—one more life taken in the systematic attempt to erase Bangladesh's intellectual and moral leadership.