Outrage over humiliation of freedom fighter

The assault and humiliation of a freedom fighter, around whose neck a garland of shoes was placed, have sparked outrage across the country.

The incident took place in Cumilla’s Chauddagram on Sunday.

Netizens and different organisations strongly protested the incident and demanded immediate arrest of those responsible.

Akhteruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Chauddagram Police Station, around 8:00pm yesterday, said, “We’re conducting raids to arrest the culprits. But none could be arrested till now.

“We have identified 10-15 people. They are residents of a village neighboring that of the freedom fighter. But we don’t know their political identities yet.”

Freedom Fighter Abdul Hai Kanu, who had to endure the humiliation, alleged the attackers were Jamaat activists.

Hours after the incident, he felt compelled to leave his ancestral land on Sunday afternoon and take shelter in a relative’s house in Feni.

Speaking to The Daily Star yesterday, Kanu’s wife Rehana Begum said, “My husband left yesterday [Sunday] afternoon as he was mentally devastated and scared. Our house has been attacked twice since August 5 — on August 19 and September 2 — by Jamaat activists.”

Kanu is a resident of Ludiara village under Cumilla’s Chauddagram and a former member of the Krishak League’s central committee.

Police said he was accused in two cases – one for murder and another for defamation.

Yesterday, a video went viral on social media, in which a group of people ordered Kanu to leave the area by nightfall. They were seen putting on a garland of shoes around his neck.

Kanu said he was on his way to buy medicine around 11:30amwhen one Hashem obstructed him and took him to Kuliara Primary School.

“They dragged me by the collar to the school, placed a sharp knife at my neck, and then threatened to kill me,” Kanu told The Daily Star.

“They also beat me, forced me to wear a garland of shoes around my neck, and ordered me to leave the district by nightfall.”

He added, “Putting a string of shoes around my neck is similar to putting one around all freedom fighters in Bangladesh. I want justice.”

Kanu alleged that Abul Hashem Mazumder and Wahid Mazumder, who are involved with Jamaat politics, led the attack.

Locals said Hashem was an expatriate.

About the cases against him, Kanu said his political rival and former Railway Minister Mujibul Haque implicated him in  “false cases”.

Contacted, Mahfuzur Rahman, ameer of Chauddagram Jamaat-e-Islami, said he cannot confirm whether any of his partymen were involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing yesterday afternoon issued a statement condemning the incident.

“We strongly condemn the defamation of Freedom Fighter Abdul Hai in Chauddagram on Sunday. The police and local administration have been directed to investigate the incident and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” reads a Facebook post from the CA press wing.

However, the post noted Kanu stands accused in nine cases, including one for murder.

“We urge everyone to refrain from taking the law into their own hands,” it added.

Chauddagram Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rahamat Ullah visited Kanu’s home yesterday afternoon and assured his security should he return home.

Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi in a statement condemned the incident and demanded punishment to the criminals.