Nilphamari-2

Jamaat introduces Montu as 'freedom fighter'

16 December 2008, 18:00 PM

E A M Asaduzzaman, Nilphamari

Moniruzzaman Montu

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists are conducting a massive election campaign in Nilphamari-2 (Sadar) constituency in favour of their party candidate Moniruzzaman Montu introducing him 'a veteran freedom fighter'. But freedom fighters here termed him to be a fake freedom fighter because of his failure to produce evidences in support of his claim before the administration. Nilphamari District Muktijodhya Sangshad commander Abdul Jalil said he found Montu's name (Serial No-719) in a gazette published during the immediate past Four-party Alliance government. At that time local freedom fighters raised question about Montu's genuineness as a freedom fighter. Objections were raised against 58 so-called freedom fighters of the district who had been enlisted during rule of the Four-party Alliance. Montu was one of them, administration sources said. Following takeover of the caretaker government, Freedom Fighters Affairs Ministry asked the district administration a few months ago to verify the matter. Accordingly, the district administration, in an official letter issued on October 22 this year, asked the so-called freedom fighters including Montu to appear before an investigation team at the deputy commissioner's (DC) office with evidences mentioning names of some freedom fighters with whom they had fought during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. But Montu did not appear before the team within the stipulated period. Again the district administration issued another official letter extending time asking him to appear before the team on November 17 this year. This time also Montu did not appear before the team. On contact, Nilphamari Additional Deputy Commissioner (Gen) Md Monirul Islam said many of the controversial 58 appeared before the team but Montu did not appear although several letters were issued to him to this effect. They will send a report to the Freedom Fighters Affairs Ministry soon for a final decision, the ADC said. When contacted, Montu claimed himself to be a freedom fighter under 'Mujib Bahini'. In reply to another query, he said he did not appear before the investigation team because of his busy schedule.