Anti-British Movement in Sreemangal during the British Era

Nestled amid the tea gardens, forests, and hills of greater Sylhet in present Bangladesh, Sreemangal ( Srimangal ) was more than just a scenic town during British rule—it was a hotbed of resistance, where men, women, peasants, and workers collectively challenged colonial authority. The struggle here was deeply intertwined with national movements, local labor activism, and revolutionary initiatives, leaving an indelible mark on history.

During the Partition of Bengal in 1905, the people of Sreemangal responded with patriotic fervor. Foreign goods were boycotted, local khaddar and hand-woven fabrics promoted, and mass protests organized. Leading these efforts were brave local leaders Foni Dutta Panini (Bhujpur), Girija Choudhury (Bhujpur), Jatindra Mohan Dutta (Noagaon), Sarada Das Tarafdar (Noagaon), Pramath Dev (Noagaon), Nagen Ghosh (Singbeej), Suresh Som (Uttarsur), Jogesh Chatterjee (Sreemangal town), Jiten Pal (Rupshpur), Borda Kant Sen (Sreemangal town), Mahendra Sharma (Tikria), Surya Moni Dev (Ramnagar), Bipin Das (Uttarsur), Jatin Dev (Sreemangal town), Master Gour Govind Dev (Bharaura), Dwijen Bhattacharya (Sreemangal town), Monmohan Bhattacharya (Boulashi), Laku Dutta Choudhury (Bhunbir), Leela Dutta Choudhury (Bhunbir), Nikunj Bihari Goswami (Kalapur), Hridoy Dev (Bharaura), Amar Dutta (Bhairab Bazar), Yashoda Govind Goswami (Kalapur), Indra Home Choudhury (Rupshpur), Mohammad Yunus Uddin (Patrikul), Nagen Dhar (Sreemangal town) respectively.

These leaders mobilized the community to wear local cloth, boycott foreign goods, and cultivate a spirit of self-reliance and resistance that spread across villages and tea estates.

After the annulment of Bengal Partition in 1911, the resistance quieted temporarily but surged again with the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920). Local activists responded to Congress resolutions, organized meetings, and promoted civil disobedience. The Khilafat movement and widespread protests (1921–22) saw assemblies, arrests, and jailings throughout Sreemangal. National figures like Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, Basanti Devi, and Maulana Mohammad Ali visited Sreemangal, inspiring local youth.

The revolutionary spirit intensified in the 1920s–30s, particularly through underground activism and labor movements. Many were arrested and tortured, including Surya Moni Dev, Mukunda Chakraborty (Tikria), Mahendra Sharma (Tikria), Monmohan Bhattacharya (Boulashi), Laku Dutta Choudhury (Bhunbir), Leela Dutta (Bhunbir), Rohini Das (Boulashi), Sarada De (Nischintpur), Sitesh Som (Uttarsur), Jitendra Pal Choudhury, and others, for participating in anti-British campaigns, Salt Satyagraha, and revolutionary activism.

In the 1930s, Khirad Bihari Deb Chaudhary (K.B. Deb Choudhury) also became actively engaged in the anti-British movement through Congress politics and later participated in Forward Bloc initiatives, highlighting the sustained political struggle in Sreemangal.

The 1930s–40s saw Sreemangal hosting leaders like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and later, supporters of Azad Hind Fauj, who found local allies in revolutionary circles. These leaders reinforced both mass and armed resistance, inspiring youth to participate in national liberation efforts.

The 1940 Lahore Resolution expanded Muslim League politics across India, including Sreemangal. Local Muslim League leaders Md. Israil and Abdus Sobhan Choudhury led campaigns for Pakistan, while Indian nationalist leaders like Shrish Chandra Dutta Choudhury (Laku Dutta) campaigned for inclusion in India. The 1947 Sylhet referendum ultimately led to Sreemangal becoming part of East Pakistan (later Bangladesh), illustrating both the success and limitations of the anti-British movement amid communal and political divisions.

The anti-British movement in Sreemangal was a tapestry of courage, sacrifice, and resilience. Its strength lay in the unity of peasants, workers, women, youth, and leaders. Figures like Foni Dutta Panini, Surya Moni Dev, Laku Dutta, Jiten Pal, Jogesh Chatterjee, and K.B. Deb Choudhury, among many others, exemplify the local commitment that contributed to national independence.

At the same time, ideological differences, communal tensions, and political fragmentation highlighted the complexity and human cost of this struggle. Yet, the legacy endures: Sreemangal stands as a testament to how local resistance, deeply rooted in community and culture, helped shape India’s and Bangladesh’s broader freedom struggle.