Torchlight procession protests obstruction on freedom fighter Manik Pashari’s burial

Activists from several organisations held a torchlight rally in the capital on Sunday to protest obstruction of the burial of freedom fighter Manik Pashari. The procession began in Paltan and moved towards the National Press Club.

The rally was organised by Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Jubo Union and Udichi Shilpigoshthi. Participants chanted various slogans, including “My land, my mother — Pakistan shall never be.”

Pashari had testified before the International Crimes Tribunal against Delawar Hossain Sayeedi, a former leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, in a crimes against humanity case relating to the 1971 Liberation War. The protest was held in response to the circumstances surrounding the burial of his body in Pirojpur.

According to family members and police, Pashari, 87, died at around 10am on Saturday in Tungipara, Gopalganj. His relatives later sought to take his body to his home in Chitolia village, under Shankarpasha Union in Pirojpur Sadar upazila. When the body was brought to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Parishad premises around noon, the family faced opposition from local Jamaat activists. Police subsequently moved the body to the police lines, citing the prevailing situation.

Pashari was given a guard of honour at around 5pm. His body was then kept in police custody for security reasons. Around 1am, it was taken to his village home with assistance from Pirojpur Sadar police. Family members completed the burial at around 2am after digging the grave themselves.

Pashari’s sister said a grave had initially been dug after the body arrived in Pirojpur, but some local people filled it in with soil. The family then dug another grave. After the body reached their home with police assistance, they completed the burial themselves. No male members of the family were present at the time, she said.

However, Abdur Razzak, assistant secretary of Pirojpur district Jamaat-e-Islami, denied allegations that the burial had been obstructed. He claimed that no leaders of the district Jamaat or its affiliated organisations had interfered with the burial and said they had instead helped police ensure it was completed.

Pirojpur Sadar police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Shariful Islam said the burial took place under tight police security. Additional police personnel have been deployed near the grave, he added.

Pashari was a resident of Ward 7 in Chitolia village, Shankarpasha Union, in Pirojpur Sadar upazila. Following the political changeover in August 2024, he initially took refuge in Jashore before moving to the home of his son-in-law in Tungipara, Gopalganj. Family members said he had been ill for two months before his death.