Jamaat denies responsibility for humiliating freedom fighter with shoe garland

Jamaat-e-Islami has denied the party’s involvement over the incident of humiliating freedom fighter Abdul Hai Kanu by placing shoe garland around his neck in Cumilla’s Chauddagram.

Jamaat's Chauddagram Upazila unit Ameer Md. Mahfuzur Rahman said: "Local Jamaat-e-Islami has no involvement in this incident." He also strongly condemned the incident.

Freedom fighter Abdul Hai Kanu (Bir Pratik) was humiliated by placing a shoe garland around his neck in front of the Kuliara Government Primary School in Batisa Union of Chauddagram Upazila on Sunday afternoon. A video of this incident went viral on social media, sparking widespread criticism.

Abdul Hai Kanu is a member of the Krishak League Central Committee and a former vice-president of the same organization's Cumilla South unit and a freedom fighter with the title of Bir Pratik. His family alleges that 10-12 people from the same village, including Farhad, Ahid, Russell, Belal, Payar, Ismail, Farhan, and Nayan, led by local Jamaat leader Abul Hashem, an expatriate from Kuliyara village, assaulted him. All the accused are leaders and activists of the local Jamaat-Shibir.

His relatives also alleged that Abdul Hai Kanu was threatened to leave the area.

According to local sources, several cases were filed against him due to his dispute with former Awami League MP Mujibul Haque. The police also arrested him on the orders of Mujibul Haque. At that time, Awami League and Chhatra League-Juba League leaders vandalized and set fire to Abdul Hai Kanu's house several times.

In the video that went viral, freedom fighter Kanu was dragged away with a shoe garland around his neck. He was ordered not to stay in the area, not even in Cumilla. At that time, Kanu was seen asking for forgiveness with folded hands.

According to Chauddagram police station sources, there are 9 cases against Abdul Hai Kanu, including murder.

Regarding the allegations, Jamaat's Chauddagram Upazila Ameer Md. Mahfuzur Rahman said: " Insulting a freedom fighter is a sensitive issue. Jamaat-e-Islam strongly condemns the incidents. The incident may be a personal matter for Hashem.”

However, the local Awami League denounced his statement. Batisa Union Jubo League General Secretary Golam Mustafa Bhuiyan, son of the disgraced freedom fighter Kanu, rejected the Jamaat leader's claim and said: "They are just making excuses. All those who committed this incident are Jamaat supporters."

He said: "My father is a victim of local political vendetta. Nine harassment cases were filed against him during the Awami League regime. He returned home after ten years. My father is very sick, and he became even sicker after being humiliated like this. He is currently admitted to a hospital. He is not talking to anyone. I demand the arrest and trial of the accused."

Cumilla District Freedom Fighter Commander Shafiul Alam Babul said: "Kanu has been the victim of repeated false and conspiratorial cases. No one is above the law. If he is wrong, the law will try him. The nation will not accept a shoe graland around the neck of a freedom fighter in this way. We strongly protest and condemn it.”

Chauddagram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) ATM Aktaruzzaman said: "I have seen the video footage. Seven or eight people have been identified. They fled the area after the incident. There are orders from the higher levels of the government to arrest them. Multiple police teams are trying to arrest the accused."