Erosion threatens Birsrestha's monument in Rangamati

A tribal girl accompanied by her father pay respect to Birsrestha Munshi Abdur Rouf at the monument on March 26. PHOTO: Star File Photo

Numerous people placed wreaths on the grave on a hilltop at Burighat in Kaptai in Naniarchar upazila.

Programmes will also be held at the monument today, the day Munsi Abdur Rouf made the supreme sacrifice for the country's independence.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

But the monument erected in 1996 is threatened with erosion. Immediate steps are needed to protect it.

Rangamati district administration submitted a proposal to the Freedom Fighters Affairs Ministry months ago, but there has been no progress in allocation of funds, BDR Rangamati Sector Commander Col. Hamidul Islam PSC told this correspondent.

The monument was built after the spot where the hero made the supreme sacrifice was located by one of his co-fighters- Doyal Krishna Chakma-during a visit to the area by the then BDR Director General Maj. Gen. Azizur Rahman in 1996.

On December 10 in the same year, the BDR built a monument to the great hero.

Since then, BDR has been organising progarmmes at the monument on the Victory Day (December 16) and the Independence Day (March 26) in memory of the hero.

On April 20 in 1971, the then EPR (East Pakistan Regiment) Lans Naek Munsi Abdur Rouf fought alone to let others escape when Pakistani troops attacked the area from three sides, said Robert Ronald, another co-fighter, now a politician in Kaptai.

Co-fighters fled the scene and request Rouf also to join them but he declined.

Munshi's team was guarding the Mohalchhari-Rangamati belt, taking position at Burighat.

A mortar shell hit him, killing him on the spot. Doyal Chakma later buried the body on the hilltop.

Munshi was born in May 1943 Salamotpur village in Boalmary thana in Faridpur district.