<i>Regrettable demise of a valiant freedom fighter</i>

Shawkat Ali of Jhenidah got neither medical treatment nor state honour

5 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Jhenidah

Left without treatment for two weeks after being bitten by a dog, a valiant freedom fighter of Shailkupa upazila in Jhenidah district died shortly after his admission into Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday. Even honour was not arranged during his funeral as his name was not included as a freedom fighter in the new gazette. Freedom fighter Shawkat Ali of Alphapur village under 10 No Bogura union in Shailkupa upazila, was bitten by a mad dog on July 20 but remained without any treatment due to monetary problem, said Kazi Awal of the village, adding that his self-respect prevented him from asking help of others. When neighbours came to know the matter, villagers led by a union parishad member arranged some money and sent him to a Magura hospital on last Sunday. But his condition had already turned serious by the time. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday morning where he breathed his last at noon. His son Bashir informed Upazila Muktijoddah Sangsad and Upazila Nirbahi Officer's office of his father's death but he was told that state honour would not be given for him as his name had not been included in the last list of freedom fighters. “Shawkat was my co-fighter. He had a certificate as a muktijoddah and his name is included in the Mukti Barta and a few other lists,” said Monoar Hossain, Muktijoddah commander of No 10 Bogura union. “It is matter of great regret that state honour was not given for Shawkat Ali Biswas who was a recognised freedom fighter. His name might be excluded from the list due to an inadvertent mistake,” said Monoar Malitha, former commander of Muktijoddah Sangsad Shailkupa upazila unit. Shailkupa UNO Mahmudul Hossain, who is also acting upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad commander, said, “State honour was not given for freedom fighter Shawkat Ali as his name was not included in the last list.”