Freedom fighters not recognized even in 50 years

Many people of Joypurhat did not get recognition of martyrs and freedom fighters. Shaheed Dr. Abul Kashem Maidan is located at Zero Point, the most recognized city in the district. Although there are various government-private, national and local programs, his name, picture or identity is nowhere in the state. Martyr Dr. Abul Kashem was killed by the Pak army as he was an organizer and intellectual in the war of liberation. But even in almost 50 years of independence, he did not get state recognition. Many such martyrs and freedom fighters are angry because they were not recognized. People of various professions including freedom fighters of Joypurhat are angry. The local administration said there was no specific list of martyrs.

On 26 July 1971, the anti-independence razakars tied the hands and feet of Dr. Abul Kashem, the organizer of the war of liberation and an intellectual martyr, and took him from his house in Debipur area of Joypurhat town to Joypurhat railway station in the morning. There he was tied to a tree and tortured till dawn. Later, he was taken to the Kuthibari Bridge area of Sadar with a cloth tied around his head. Similarly, Yakub Ali Mandal of Dogachhi in Sadar Upazila was made Sheikh Mujib's party for the war of liberation.

Amar Sarkar Buro, a bicycle maker from the city's Khanjanpur mission, took part in the battle by making his own iron cannon. His family said the cannon was preserved in the capital's National Museum. But while he was alive, even after his death, the recognition of the freedom fighter did not match. They are now living inhumane lives. The graves of many martyrs and freedom fighters including Dr. Abul Kashem are in dilapidated condition due to non-renovation of the state. The late Anjir Hossain Chand of Dakshin Dewan Para of the city actively participated in the war of liberation in different parts of his village home Bogra area during the war of liberation. According to his family members, he was the general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League Joypurhat district committee in 1975 during the difficult times of Awami League. But he too was not recognized. Her orphaned children are also living inhuman lives. On behalf of the family of martyr Dr. Abul Kashem, Kazi Asaduzzaman Joy applied to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs for recognition of the martyred freedom fighter, but his recognition has not been matched yet. Such allegations are made by many families of martyrs and freedom fighters.

Laili Begum, daughter of martyr Dr. Abul Kashem, said in a tearful voice, “My father used to play Sheikh Mujib’s A-League during the war. My father was killed by the Pak army for organizing the Awami League and organizing the freedom fighters. I want my father's recognition from the government.

Arifur Rahman Rocket, grandson of Shaheed Yaqub Ali Mandal, said, "In 1971, my grandfather was brutally killed by the Pak army." But the martyrs have not been recognized yet. Those who have been martyred, those who are in favor of the liberation war and those who fought in the liberation war are not recognized or listed by the state. They all need to be listed.

"My father fought with an iron cannon during the war," said Pulon Sarkar, son of Amar Sarkar Buro. That cannon is preserved in the National Magic Room. But the liberation war has not been recognized yet. After the death of my father, our family is living an inhuman life.

Sabbir Hossain, son of the late Anjir Hossain Chand, said, "I heard before my father's death that my grandfather's house is in Bogra district." Father fought the war of liberation from there. Everyone knows my father as a freedom fighter. But even today he was not recognized. After the death of my parents, I am living in a tin house with great difficulty.

Cultural activist Topi Md. Enamul Haque said, I have been watching Dr. Abul Kashem Maidan since my childhood. We cultivate consciousness here. Various programs of government and non-government, local social and cultural organizations are held here. Martyr Dr. Abul Kashem is an intellectual. There is nothing on this ground to hold his memory. His biography needs to be given state recognition.

Local freedom fighter Zakaria Hossain Montu, freedom fighter Mahafuzal Haque Basunia and many others lamented that the martyr Dr. Abul Kashem and Yakub Ali Mandal were brutally killed by the Pak army. But they were not recognized. Also many have been martyred, fought they were not recognized, let them be recognized.

Joypurhat Sadar Upazila Muktijoddha Commander Bir Muktijoddha Afsar Ali said many martyrs and freedom fighters were not recognized. Martyr Dr. Abul Kashem, Martyr Yaqub Ali and many others needed to be recognized. Joypurhat District Freedom Fighter Commander Bir Muktijoddha Amjad Ali said, "I will demand from the bottom of my heart that these people should be evaluated as martyrs and freedom fighters."

Joypurhat Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Md. Arafat Hossain said if any official instructions are received regarding the list of martyrs, they will be implemented and any instructions of the state for martyrs and freedom fighters will be implemented locally.