Freedom fighter cremated sans state honour

Harendra Nath Roy,65, son of late Gaynendra Nath Barman of South Chapra village under Chaora Borogachha union in Sadar Upazila fought valiantly in Sector No 6 for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

It is a tragedy that after independence of the country, he was turned into a day labourer. During his life-time he was harassed in many ways. Even he was not officially enlisted as a freedom fighter. He moved from door to door to get his freedom fighter's allowance but in vain. Out of frustration he became mentally perturbed. He kept himself aloof from all the official functions of Muktijodhya Sangsad and government.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Ultimately, Haren died of heart attack without treatment on July 23 night and was cremated without state honour at 10 in the morning on July 24.

The unfortunate freedom fighter left his widow Tultuli Rani, 60, two sons Hori Das,35, a rickshaw-puller and Odhir,25, a day labourer besides his daughter, Bharati Rani,30.

It was learnt that his widow was not at all aware about the regular state practice of showing honour to any freedom fighter after his death.

However, Nilphamari Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) K M Masuduzzaman blamed the district Muktijodhya Office for the 'gross' mistake. Because the administration officials were misinformed by the Muktijodhya Office about the time of his cremation. The UNO said he along with a team of police went to the house of the freedom fighter when he came to know that he had been already cremated earlier without state honour.

The commander of the district unit of Moktijodhya Sangsad, Shamsul Haque Joba said to this correspondent he was deeply shocked at the incident.