Freedom fighters boycott programmes in 3 dists
Jamaat leader in committee in Khulna, alleged Jamaat link of a UNO in Manikganj and Razakar's name on memorial plaque in Magura
Freedom fighters boycotted Independence Day pogrammes in Magura district town, Shivalaya upazila in Manikganj and in Koira of Khulna district yesterday.
In Magura, Independence Day was observed in a lacklusture atmosphere as many freedom fighters boycotted programmes protesting inclusion of names of two Razakars (collaborators of Pakistan occupation army) and some fake freedom fighters in the victory memorial built at Bhaina Square, reports our correspondent.
Magura Muktijoddha Sangsad (Freedom Fighters) earlier protested this and sent an application to the authorities to erase their names. They boycotted yesterday's programme as the liberation war affairs ministry is yet to take any action, Ali Raza, former commander of the Sangsad told this correspondent.
The memorial was inaugurated on the Victory Day in 2004 and the protest note was sent on January 1, 2005, he said.
“As the ministry is yet to take any step, we boycotted the programmes', he said.
It is a matter of great regret that names of Razakars Aminuddin and Khater Ali have been engraved on the victory memorial, freedom fighter Captin (rtd.) Khalilur Rahman said.
The two Razakars were killed in a gunbattle with freedom fighters at Kamanna village in Jhenidah on November 26, 1971, he said. Supreme sacrifice of fellow freedom fighters have been belittled by putting names of Razakas on the victory memorial, he said
Records say 40 freedom fighters embraced martyrdom in Magura Sadar upazila, but only 25 names have been engraved on the victory memorial, Ali Reza said .
In Sreepur upazila, 13 heroes laid down their lives but only four names are on the memorial. Name of fake martyr Abdus Salek has also been inscribed.
In Mohammadpur upazila, 13 freedom fighters sacrificed their lives. But the memorial contains names of only nine freedom fighters. Names of three of fake freedom fighters are also on the plaque.
“Our investigation revealed that two names of Razakars have been inscribed on the plaque of victory memorial and we also wrote to the ministry”, Additional Deputy Commissioner Santosh Kumar Adhikari said.
Names of Razakars could not be erased as we are yet to get any official order from higher authorities, he said.
In Manikganj, freedom fighters boycotted programme at Shivalaya upazila protesting Upazila Nirbahi Officer's alleged involvement with Jamaat politics and his misbehave with freedom fighters.
The upazila administration organised a reception to the freedom fighters at the Upazila Parisad auditorium at 11:00 am yesterday, reports our correspondent.
But freedom fighters held a protest meeting on upazila Shaheed Minar premises. It was addressed by, among others, commander of Shivalaya Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad Abdur Rahim Khan Alo and freedom fighters Rejaur Rahman Khan Janu, Abdur Rahim Khan and Ajijul Haque Nannu.
They said a government official should respect those fought for the country. But the UNO, being a Jamaat man, misbehaved with the freedom fighters earlier.
When contacted, UNO Soleman Khan said freedom fighters demanded land from him but it was not met and so they boycotted the programmes.
Freedom fighters and Awami league leaders and activists in Koira upazila in Khulna district boycotted all programmes Independence Day programmes protesting inclusion of the name of former lawmaker of Jamaat Shah Mohammod Ruhul Quddus in the observance committee.
Matiur Rahman, convenor of Koira upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad, said freedom fighter and Awami league leaders did not attend yesterday's official programmes as the man who opposed independent Bangladesh was on the committee.
When contacted, Koira UNO MM Arif Pasha said he had no right to reject Jamaat leaders as their political party is not a banned one.
“I wanted all parties to participate in the programmes to make it a grand success”, he said.
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