After 49 years of independence, five freedom fighters of Jashore did not find a place in the list. The martyrdom of the freedom fighters are yet to be recognised.
The freedom fighters are Asaduzzaman Asad, Mashikur Rahman Tojo, Sirajul Islam Shanti, Ahsan Uddin Manik and Fazlur Rahman Fazlu.
Shaheed Asaduzzaman's brother Mohammad Shafiquzzaman, a former official of Jashore Board of Education, said that a letter signed by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was issued after independence expressing his condolences to the families of five martyrs including his brother. That is the great recognition. No one of his family could not believe they sacrificed their lives just for a certificate.
He thinks that if there is anything to be done, it should be done by the state. The five freedom fighters were killed in a brush fire on the banks of the river Harihar in Chinatola Bazar in Sador upazila of the district in 1971. But no initiative has been taken by the state to protect the memory of the martyrs.
Shyamapada Nath, 78, a labor leader in Chinatola Bazar, who witnessed the incident said that at that time he was working as a laborer in Chinatola Bazar.
On October 23 in 1971, on the instructions of the Razakars, Asad, Tojo, Shanti, Manik and Fazlu were brought to the side of the bridge of Harihor River at around 8 pm.
Shortly afterwards, the Razakar commander's whistle blew and they shot dead. Within moments, the bodies of five young men fell to the ground.
It is learned that the five leaders, led by Nur Mohammad, the South Bengal leader of the student union, along with other freedom fighters, were asked to go to Jashore after the battle at Shantala in Kapaliya in Bhabodaha area.
On the way, Asad fell ill and took shelter at the house of Abdur Rahman in Swarpur village. On learning of this, the local Razakar commander arrested them on October 23 in 1971, tied of their eye and took them to the Harihar river bridge on the east side of Chinatola Bazar. They were taken there, stabbed with bayonets, given salt and tortured lastly they shot dead.
Alauddin, former commander of Manirampur Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad, said that no initiative has been taken by their families and organisations for their recognition.
After independence the Martyrs' Memorial Preservation Committee, and Left Party to preserve the memory of the martyrs. Where they pay homage to the martyrs on October 23 every year and hold a discussion meeting on their life history.
But no initiative has been taken to pay homage to the martyrs in the state till date. Freedom fighter comrade Abdul Hamid said that have demanded of the government to take necessary steps to preserve the memory and homeland of all the martyrs of the upazila including their graves.
