JU students burn effigy of Sayeedi over obstruction of freedom fighter’s burial

A group of students at Jahangirnagar University burned an effigy of Delawar Hossain Sayeedi, who was convicted of crimes against humanity, in protest against allegations that obstacles were placed in the way of the burial and guard of honour for freedom fighter Manik Pashari.

The protest took place at the university’s Bot Tola area at around 9pm on Monday (26 October), followed by a protest rally.

The effigy bore the labels “Pakistan’s agent” and “war criminal Deilla Razakar”. Students participating in the programme condemned what they described as an affront to the history and ideals of the Liberation War and demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the freedom fighter’s burial.

Abu Raihan Kabir Russell, a 49th-batch student in the university’s Bangla department and organiser of the programme, said the political positions of those who opposed the Liberation War were incompatible with Bangladesh’s state ideals. He also alleged that the freedom fighter had been given a guard of honour discreetly.

Russell further questioned the display of photographs of Razakars under the leadership of Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka University and the subsequent process of providing a guard of honour to the freedom fighter. He said the students had organised the protest to condemn these incidents.

At the rally, Sohagi Samia, an organiser of the Jahangirnagar University unit of the Socialist Students’ Front, alleged that Manik Pashari’s burial and the provision of a guard of honour had been obstructed because he had testified against Sayeedi. She called for those responsible to be identified.

Samia said the incident could not be viewed in isolation from allegations that religion was being used for political purposes. She also questioned the alleged obstruction of the burial of a Muslim.

Referring to the country’s recent political developments, Samia said the events of 2024 should not be used to diminish the history of the 1971 Liberation War. In her view, it was not possible to uphold the spirit of the 2024 movement without embracing the ideals of the Liberation War.

She also said legal action should have been taken against those allegedly involved in obstructing the burial of a decorated freedom fighter. Samia added that more people would join protests if the history and ideals of the Liberation War came under attack in the future.