Freedom fighters protest removal of four national leaders' mural from Muktijoddha Chattar

Freedom fighters in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj have expressed outrage over the removal of the mural portraits of the four national leaders—Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain Muhammad Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman—from the Jagdishpur Muktijoddha Chattar adjacent to the historic Teliapara Memorial.

Local freedom fighters alleged that the mural portraits of the four national leaders had been installed at the Muktijoddha Chattar for a long time. About a month ago, the then Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Madhabpur, Zahid Bin Kasem, ordered their removal, labelling them "irrelevant."

After reports on the matter appeared in various media outlets, the freedom fighters expressed public protest following the transfer of the UNO. They have demanded the reinstatement of the portraits. Leaders of the Muktijoddha Sontan Command also condemned the incident.

Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Shahid said the portraits of the four national leaders had been at the Muktijoddha Chattar, built with government funds, for a long time. They were removed without any proper procedure. "We demand a fair investigation and justice," he said.

Former president of Madhabpur Press Club Md Olid Mia also protested on social media. In a post, he questioned: "Were these portraits causing a problem for the government?"

He added that those who played a vital role in building an independent Bangladesh should be shown proper respect. If the culture of removing portraits of historic leaders continues, everyone could fall victim to this malpractice over time.

Multiple phone calls to Madhabpur's current UNO Mehedi Hasan for a comment went unanswered.