Abdul Kader Siddique, president of the Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), prevented Sakhipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) from giving a guard of honour to deceased freedom fighter Abdul Hamid due to the UNO being a woman.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon during preparations for the state honours ceremony for the late freedom fighter at Sakhipur PM Pilot Model School and College ground.
Hailed as Bangabir, Kader Siddique admitted to doing so.
According to local sources, freedom fighter Abdul Hamid Khan passed away at his home in Sakhipur Bazar around 12:30am on Saturday.
Before Abdul Hamid Khan's namaz-e-janaza on Saturday afternoon, Sakhipur UNO Farjana Alam went there to give him a guard of honour.
At that time, Kader Siddique stopped the UNO from giving the guard of honour and asked a male officer to do it instead.
After the UNO left, the namaz-e-janaza of the freedom fighter was held.
Later, however, after Kader Siddique left the premises, the freedom fighter was buried after being given a guard of honour under the leadership of the female UNO on the instructions of the deputy commissioner.
In a brief speech before the namaz-e-janaza, Kader Siddique addressed the female UNO and said that no woman can give freedom fighters a guard of honour.
“The female UNO came here and insulted the freedom fighter. If Bangabandhu were alive now, I would have sent many officials here to Dhaka,” he said.
He also called for the removal of the UNO from Sakhipur by the next day for disrespecting a valiant freedom fighter.
Mentioning that Abdul Hamid Khan was a great freedom fighter, Kader Siddique further said Bangladesh became independent, but the freedom fighters did not get proper respect.
“I am very hurt that no one came to give the guard of honour to this valiant freedom fighter until 2pm, even though he died around 12am. No matter how empowered a woman is, she cannot participate in a namaz-e-janaza,” he added.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Farjana Alam said she did not go to participate in the namaz-e-janaza and she just went to give the guard of honour to the freedom fighter.
“Bangabir Kader Siddique insulted me in front of a thousand people. There is no doubt that Kader Siddique is a great freedom fighter. I have no complaint against him,” she added.
