Freedom fighter buried without guard of honour in Cumilla, family and locals express anger

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Brahmanpara Police Station Md Faruq Hossain has said Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Sattar was buried without the state honour of guard of honour in Brahmanpara upazila of Cumilla. Police could not finally give the guard of honour as no one from the upazila administration was present. Local freedom fighters and the relatives of the deceased have expressed anger over this incident.

OC Md Faruq Hossain said a team of police with equipment was sent to the spot for giving the guard of honour. The bugle team had also come from the police lines. However, police alone could not give the guard of honour as no one from the upazila administration was present.

Relatives and local people said 78-year-old Abdus Sattar died in Dhaka on Thursday. He was a resident of Mahalakshipara village of Sadar union in Brahmanpara upazila. In his professional life he served in various important offices including the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry of Law. He was spending the last days of his life with his son in Dhaka.

After the first janaza in Dhaka his body was taken to the village home. It was already 5:30pm when the body reached the village. After that the relatives waited for the guard of honour. But as no one came from the upazila administration he was finally buried without the state honour.

The relatives alleged that although the matter was informed to Brahmanpara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Munna Islam several times, he did not take it into cognisance on the pretext of it becoming night.

Abdus Sattar’s brother Shahjahan said, “We wanted to bid farewell to our brother by showing him the last honour. But that could not be done. The person who fought with arms for nine months and made this country independent did not even get the honour he deserved.”

Local freedom fighters have also expressed anger over this incident. Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Sattar Molla of Mahalakshipara village said the matter is extremely painful. Even if the guard of honour could not be given after evening, at least people from the administration could have come and paid the last respects, but that was not done either. As a freedom fighter such dishonour of a fellow fighter is not tolerable.

Brahmanpara Upazila Freedom Fighters Commander Idris Mia Master said he had requested for the guard of honour and armed salute by maintaining constant contact with the administration. But UNO Munna Islam had informed him that the guard of honour cannot be given after evening.

Chairman of Sadar Union Parishad Jahirul Haque said he was present at the janaza. He said there has been strong criticism in the area over not giving the guard of honour to the freedom fighter.

OC Faruq Hossain said a pickup of police was sent for the guard of honour after receiving the information. He himself also took part in the janaza. However, police alone could not complete the formalities as no one from the upazila administration was present.

On the other hand UNO Munni Islam said the guard of honour is not given after evening. Even then they had made preparations. She also said there was hesitation regarding bringing the body from Dhaka. According to her, no one contacted her after Maghrib. For this reason it was not possible to give the guard of honour.