<i>A proud mother honoured at last </i>
Rokeya Khatun, mother of four martyred freedom fighters, was accorded a reception by Nilmoni Gallery, a sports and cultural body in Pabna yesterday.Photo: STAR
It was a solemn occasion when Nilmoni Gallery, a local sports and cultural organization, accorded a reception to families of martyred freedom fighters in Pabna. Those attended the reception included Rokeya Khatun, whose four sons and a son-in-law embraced martyrdom for an independent Bangladesh. Rokeya Khatun, no win her 80s, was given a reception for the first time this year. The function, held on Bonomali Institute premise Friday evening, began with lighting 37 candles in honour of martyred freedom fighters in the district. Abdul Kaium Sarkar Bablu, son of martyred freedom fighter Baul MA Gafur lit the candles. The function was attended by freedom fighters, intellectuals, cultural activists, officials and elite of the town. Former player and Nilmoni Gallery advisor Md. Abdul Wahab chaired the function while Prof Md. Nurunnabi was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Rokeya Khatun thanked the organizers for giving her the reception. She said her sons and son-in-law sacrificed their lives to establish a happy and prosperous society in independent Bangladesh. But it is yet to be established. She said she could forget the pains of losing her sons if she could see none is deprived in independent Bangladesh. But this is still far away. She lamented that like her, families of many martyred freedom fighters are passing hard days due to poverty as previous governments did nothing for them except giving a paltry allowance. She regretted that collaborators of the Pakistani occupation army who were responsible for deaths of many people are yet to be tried. They should be tried and punished to establish rule of law and the spirit of the Liberation War. The four sons of Rokeya Khatun who embraced martyrdom are Mosharaf Hossain Ranju, Mostak Hossain Anju, Mokaram Hossain Mukul and Mansur Hossain Manju. Her martyred son-in-law is Eusuf Ali. Among others, the reception was also attended by Kutizan Nesa, mother of martyred freedom fighter Abul Hashem. Other speakers said it is our national duty to pay homage to martyrs families. If we fail to do so, we will lose our identity, they added.
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