Freedom fighters formed a human chain in Pirojpur on Thursday, protesting the obstruction of fellow freedom fighter Manik Pashari’s namaz-e-janaza and burial in Chitolia village.
The programme was held in front of the Pirojpur District Muktijoddha Complex around 11:00am under the banner of the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Command.
Freedom fighters, their family members and people from various walks of life joined the programme. Speakers condemned the incident and demanded a fair investigation, reports Bangla Tribune.
Abdur Razzak Sardar, a member of the district freedom fighters’ council, said Pashari had returned to Bangladesh with them after receiving training in India in 1971. They had crossed the border together in several boats and Pashari had assisted them in various activities during the Liberation War.
“It is deeply regrettable that a man who fought for the country’s independence should face such treatment over his guard of honour and burial,” he said.
Ahmed Shahidul Haque, convener of the district freedom fighters’ council, said he had gone to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Parishad premises with a floral wreath when Pashari’s body was brought to the district.
“A group of people gathered there and snatched the wreath from our hands. They created a situation that forced us to leave. We later informed the administration, after which Manik Pashari’s body was taken inside the police lines,” he said.
Pashari was a resident of Chitolia village in Pirojpur Sadar upazila. According to his family, he had been staying at his son-in-law’s house in Tungipara, Gopalganj, since August 5, 2024.
He died there at around 10:00am last Saturday after suffering from illness for two months. His relatives brought the body to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Parishad around noon before it was taken to the Pirojpur Police Lines, where he was given a guard of honour.
He was buried at around 1:30am on Sunday. The incident drew public attention after photographs showing three women digging his grave circulated on Facebook.
Family members alleged that they had been threatened with having Pashari’s body cremated or withheld and being barred from returning to their home.
Pashari had testified against Delawar Hossain Sayedee, a former Jamaat-e-Islami leader, before the International Crimes Tribunal in a case involving crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
Sayedee was sentenced to imprisonment until death and died while receiving treatment in custody on August 14, 2023.