FFs boycott Independence Day programme in Magura

Two names of alleged Razakars (underlined) are still there on the victory memorial plaque in Magura. PHOTO: STAR

The Liberation War Affairs Ministry is yet to earse the names despite submission of a written application by the Magura Muktijoddha Sangsad last year.

The memorial was built by the Zilla Parishad at Vaina Square in Magura town at a cost of TK. 14.10 lakh and formally opened by BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Huq Kamal on the Victory Day in 2004.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Former commander of Magura Muktijoddha Sangsad Khan Ali Reza, on behalf of Magura freedom fighters, submitted the petition to the secretary to the ministry on January 1, 2005 to erase the names of controversial persons from the plaque . 'As the ministry is yet to take any step, we boycotted the programmes', Ali Reza told this correspondent on Sunday.

"It is a matter of great regret that names of Razakars Aminuddin and Khater Ali have been engraved on the victory memorial," several valiant freedom fighters including Md Shahidullah said.

" The two were however killed in a gun battle with freedom fighters at Kamanna village in Jhenidah district on November 26,1971" he said.

" The supreme sacrifices of fellow freedom fighters have been belittled by putting the names of Razakars on the victory memorial. The ministry concerned should take action against those who are responsible for this," Shahidullah said.

Khan Ali Reza said, " Apart from names of two Razakars, there are names of people (engraved on the memorial) who had no contribution during the Liberation War."

"On behalf of local freedom fighters, I wrote to the Secretary to liberation war affairs ministry to take step to erase their names , but to no effect even after about 15 months," Reza said.

According to him, although the 'Mukti Barta' ( a booklet published by the Central Command of Muktijoddha Sangsad) records say, 40 freedoms fighters embraced martyrdom in Magura Sadar upazila, only 25 names have been engraved on the memorial.

In Sreepur upazila, 13 heroes laid down their lives but only four names are on the memorial. Name of a fake martyr--Abus Salek---has also been inscribed.

In Mohamnadpur upazilla, 13 freedom fighters sacrificed their lives. But the memorial has names of nine freedom fighters only and three of fake martyrs.

The memorial contains five names of 'martyrs' from Shalikha upazila, but the Mukti Barta records say there was no martyr from the upazila.

When contacted, Kazi Saimul Huq Kamal MP said, "Many of us know that two names of Razakars have been engraved on the memorial, but we are undone as we are not entitled to drop the names given by the district administration and prepared by the ministry". The list was prepared by the district administration during Awami League rule, Kamal claimed.

Deputy commissioner Neamatullah Bhuiyan talking to The Daily Star said, "The names of two Razakars have already been excluded by the ministry from the gazette and those will be erased from the victory memorial very soon".