FFs break lock, lay wreaths at Shaheed Minar in Sunamganj

On Independence Day, freedom fighters broke the lock of the old Shaheed Minar on DS Road and laid wreaths. On Wednesday, March 26, at 10:30 am, they went to the Shaheed Minar and were upset to see the gate locked. Later, the freedom fighters broke the lock and entered inside and paid their respects. Earlier, many people expressed their anger on social media after seeing the Shaheed Minar locked in the first hours of independence the night before.

Sunamganj was liberated on December 6. This Shaheed Minar on DS Road (Dewan Saheb Road) was built by local freedom fighters with their own hands before December 16. Under the direction of the then Major Motalib (Sub-Sector Commander), freedom fighter-journalist Saleh Chowdhury immediately designed this martyr memorial plaque. It is believed that this is the first Shaheed Minar in Bangladesh built by the freedom fighters after the country gained independence. Since there are no other memorial plaques of the Liberation War and the Language Movement in Sunamganj city, this one became the only one to commemorate the 1971 martyrs and the Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to the language martyrs of 1952. However, it is better known as Shaheed Minar.

The 1971 martyr memorial plaque was built in the Sunamganj Court premises a few years ago. Since then, wreaths have been placed at both the old and new martyr altars on National Day. But this year, the entrance gate of the old Shaheed Minar is locked on Independence Day. Many people have come to pay their respects and have been forced to pay their respects to the memorial plaque in the Court premises.

At around 10:30 am, the freedom fighters were angry when they saw the gate locked when they went to lay wreaths and broke the lock and entered the Shaheed Minar and paid tribute to the memory of the martyrs.

Jahangir Alam, Vice President of District Udichi, said, "I was surprised to see the gate locked at the Shaheed Minar on the great Independence Day. This is the first time I have returned after laying wreaths at the Shaheed Minar on any Independence Day and found the gate locked. Later, I went to the memorial plaque in the court premises and laid wreaths. It is necessary to investigate why the gate was kept locked. According to the custom, the freedom fighters came to lay flowers at this Shaheed Minar. Later, they had no choice but to break the lock and enter the Shaheed Minar.

Former commander of Sunamganj Sadar Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad, freedom fighter Abdul Majid, said, "They have done an irresponsible act by keeping the Shaheed Minar locked on the great Independence Day." We were forced to break the lock and enter the Shaheed Minar and pay our respects to the memory of the martyrs. He said, this Shaheed Minar in Sunamganj was built by our own hands. I was very saddened to see it locked on Independence Day.

Former commander of the District Muktijoddha Sangsad Nurul Momen said, I went to offer flowers and saw the gate of the Shaheed Minar locked. Locking the Shaheed Minar on Independence Day is unacceptable. Therefore, the freedom fighters were angry and broke the lock and entered the Shaheed Minar and laid wreaths. I have heard that many people who came to offer flowers at the Shaheed Minar and saw the gate locked, turned back. In response to the question of who locked it, he said, the Shaheed Minar is currently under the responsibility of the municipal administration. An additional district administrator is in charge of the municipal administrator. The matter is very sad. I think it needs to be looked into seriously.

Sunamganj Municipality Municipal Administrator and Additional District Administrator Rezaul Karim said that tributes are paid to language martyrs at the Shahid Minar. And tributes are paid to the memorial on Independence Day and Victory Day. Flowers will be offered at the memorial on Independence Day, so the old Shahid Minar is kept closed.