Meherpur structures still carry ex-Pakistan governor Monem Khan’s name

The High Court, on December 6, 2016, ordered authorities concerned to remove names of people, who showed anti-liberation sentiment in 1971, from numerous organisations, structures and roads throughout Bangladesh. The order, passed by Justices Kazi Rezaul Haque and Mohammad Ullah, is still being ignored in Meherpur. A year has passed since the High Court order, but the names of people who collaborated with Pakistani occupation forces in 1971 can still be seen on various structures throughout the district. An academy still carries the name of razakar Mia Mansoor Ali, who was active in Mujibnagar, while a road was named after razakar Sabdar Ali, who hailed from the municipality area. Abdul Monem Khan, the then East Pakistan provincial governor, inaugurated the Meherpur Power Distribution Centre in 1968.  

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A white stone plaque, installed at the engineer’s office inside the facility, still bears the name of Monem Khan. Responding to a query, Executive Engineer Abdul Aziz said: “We are not aware of the court’s order, and no instruction on removing the plaque has been issued by the high ups. Even I want the plaque to be removed.”   The main entrance of Mia Mansoor Academy, named after a razakar | Ashraful Islam/Dhaka Tribune  Sabdar Ali Master was the chairman of Meherpur unit of Shanti Committee, an organization of collaborators backed by the Pakistani forces that engaged in war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh Meherpur municipality had named an important road and a market after Sabdar Ali. Another road in Meherpur has been named Mahtab Khan Sarak. This person also served as the district Shanti Committee chairman. Addressing the issue, Meherpur Municipality Mayor and also the district Jubo League convener, Mahfuzur Rahman Riton said: “The previous municipal council was responsible for naming the roads and the markets. “We will make a decision regarding the matter in the next council meeting.” Meanwhile, Mia Mansoor Academy, a school named after a notorious razakar can be found in Anandabas area of Mujibnagar. He was elected a lawmaker from Chuadanga, backed by the BNP in 1979 and 1991. “After the High Court order, we received a letter that directed us to change the name of that school. We wrote back with a recommended name, but it has not been approved yet,” said Md Hasnain Karim, who is the academic supervisor of Mujibnagar Upazila Secondary and Higher Education Office.  

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Meanwhile, even the Meherpur unit of ruling party Awami League is yet to take steps to remove the names of people, who had collaborated with the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971, from structures in the district. Commenting on the matter, former district freedom fighter commander Bashir Ahmed said: “Meherpur’s Mujibnagar can be considered the cradle of Bangali people’s struggle for freedom in 1971, but the district continues to bear the mark of those who collaborated with the enemy.”