Freedom Fighter
PM mourns death of freedom fighter Shawkat Ali
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Chilmari upazila Awami League president and valiant freedom fighter Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram.
In a condolence message, she recalled the courageous contribution of Shawkat Ali in the great Liberation War.
Read: PM mourns death of AL leader Abu Saleh
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Gaibandha AL leader allegedly threatens freedom fighter
An aged freedom fighter in Palashbari of Gaibandha has faced threats of losing his allowance unless he testifies a known Jamaat patron as a freedom fighter.
The allegation was made against Muhibul Hasan Mukit, who recently joined as organising secretary of newly formed Gaibandha's Palashbari unit of Awami League. His parents were known sympathizers of local Jamaat for a long time, said sources at the local Awami League.
Also read: Freedom fighter murdered by three men in Keraniganj
Even a senior freedom fighter named Nasir Uddin Sarkar in Gobindaganj received threats of taking away his freedom fighter certificate if he does not certify that Mukit's father took pary n the Liberation War.
"They blackmailed me. Habibur Rahman was never a freedom fighter. I know that very well. They cheated me, forcing me to say something in their favour," he said.
Also read:Missing freedom fighter found dead in Chattogram
Meanwhile, the convener of a probe body in this matter prepared his report while none of the 28 interviewees from local AL leaders and freedom fighters testified against the allegation over the long standing nexus between Mukit’s father and local Jamaat leaders.
The committee was made following the submission of a complaint regarding the involvement of Mukit's family in Jamaat to central Awami League by a local leader.
HC stays govt order on withdrawal of allowance to Birangana Majeda
The High Court on Wednesday stayed a government order on the withdrawal of freedom fighter’s allowance that Birangana Majeda had been getting for four years until 2020.
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the authorities concerned should not be directed to restore the allowance of Majeda, who uses one name, she is entitled to get as a freedom fighter.
A vacation bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman issued the rule after hearing a petition filed by Majeda, wife of Taslim Uddin of Ranishankoil upazila in Thakurgaon district.
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Barrister Sabrina Jerin pleaded for Majeda in the court.
The government recognized Birangana Majeda of Rautnagar village in Ranishankoil upazila as a freedom fighter and a gazette was published in this regard on July 21, 2016.
Since the publication of the gazette, Majeda started getting her allowance as a freedom fighter.
But 0n October 20, 2020, the government published another gazette in which another woman also named Majeda, wife of Daraj Uddin recognising her as a freedom fighter.
This came after the second woman claimed that she was the real freedom fighter and challenged the status of Majeda, wife of Taslim Uddin.
Read: Khaleda’s treatment abroad: HC likely to hear petition Wednesday
After that, the freedom fighter allowance of Majeda, wife of Taslim Uddin had been revoked.
Later, she sent a legal notice to the ministry of liberation war affairs and National Freedom Fighter Council seeking restoration of her freedom fighter allowance.
She filed the writ as the authorities failed to respond to the legal notice.
Freedom fighter murdered by three men in Keraniganj
A freedom fighter was allegedly killed by three men after his arbitration went against one of them in the Korergaon area of south Keraniganj.
The victim was identified as Shahidullah, 70, a local resident. Four others also sustained minor injuries in the attack.
According to locals and family members,Shahidullah helped settle a dispute on Sunday but the decision went against one of the accused, Ripon.
Aslo read: Two to die for murder in Rajshahi
Subsequently, Ripon and his two accomplices attacked the freedom fighter, leaving him seriously injured.
Locals rescued him to Swadesh Hospital in the area. Later, he was shifted to a private hospital as his condition deteriorated where he succumbed to his injuries this morning.
Officer-in-charge of South Keraniganj police station, Abul Kalam Azad said that a murder case would be registered against the trio. "Efforts are on to arrest them."
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Recognition as freedom fighter: 50 years have gone, but painter Haider Ali's wait continues
Haider Ali, whose job is now to paint walls and doors, put his life on the line every day during the nine-month liberation war of Bangladesh as his country called.
Fast forward to November 2021, as the country is celebrating the golden jubilee of its independence. But things have not changed for Haider, the father of two daughters, for whom tomorrow means another fight for survival.
The man from Darshana, Damurhuda upazila is yet to be gazetted as a freedom fighter even after 50 years. That means he is not able to avail the benefits given to freedom fighters. He now has to struggle to put food on the table.
Read:Tourism Ministry and Hotel Intercontinental honour freedom fighters
Then twenty-year-old Haider from Darshana's Paranpur joined the Liberation War in 1971 in sector 8. The young gun went to India to complete his training as a freedom fighter. He joined the group of ten freedom fighters, led by late Chabdar Ali, in the Bishoykhali area of Kaliganj upazila, Jhenaidah.
Freedom fighters Tamsher Ali, Anisur Rahman, Akkas Ali, Sirajul Islam, Nowsher Ali were the other people from Haider's area who directly fought the war.
Looking back at Zahir Raihan, the legend
Thursday marks the 86th birth anniversary of the legendary filmmaker and freedom fighter Zahir Raihan, best remembered for capturing the 1971 Liberation War on celluloid.
Born as Mohammad Zahirullah on August 19, 1935, in Majupur village of the then Feni mahakuma in Noakhali district, Raihan initially studied at Calcutta Alia Madrasah in India, where his father was a professor.
After the Partition of India in 1947, his family moved back to his ancestral village in Feni. Three years later, he successfully completed matriculation from Amirabad High School. And that year only, he started working as a journalist for Juger Alo.
Read:Remembering Zahir Raihan
Although he joined medical college after completing his intermediate examination from Dhaka College in 1953, Raihan eventually dropped out. However, he later obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bangla from Dhaka University in 1958.
After Juger Alo, he had worked with many other newspapers, namely Khapchhara, Jantrik, and Cinema. He also served as the editor of Probaho in 1956. His first collection of short stories ‘Suryagrahan’ was published in 1955. He was also one of the publishers of English Weekly Express.
Raihan went back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and joined Pramatesh Burua Memorial Photography School in 1952 to learn photography. His career in the film industry began with the film ‘Jago Huye Savera’ in 1957, where he worked as an assistant director.
As the assistant director, he had also worked with director Salahuddin in the film ‘Je Nodi Morupothay’ and Ehtesham in ‘Ei Desh Tomar Amar’. His first directorial venture ‘Kokhono Asheni’ was released in 1961.
After that, Raihan successfully launched two of his revolutionary attempts as a director in 1964 by making the movie ‘Sangam’, Pakistan’s first-ever coloured film, and ‘Bahana’, Pakistan’s first cinemascope Urdu film.
He was gradually becoming more and more successful during that time as a director with back-to-back hits such as ‘Sonar Kajol’ (1962, jointly directed with Kolim Sharafi), ‘Kancher Deyal’ (1963), ‘Behula’ (1966), ‘Anowara’ (1966) and ‘Agun Niye Khela’ (1967).
Read:Remembering natyacharya Selim Al Deen
Through his movies, he had launched several prominent artistes, most notably Nayak Raj Razzak and Babita, and worked frequently with prominent actor-directors Amzad Hossain and Khan Ataur Rahman.
As the nation's political situation was getting chaotic more than ever during the time, Raihan was continuously feeling the zeal to break every shackle imposed by then Pakistani rulers. He actively participated in the 1952 Language Movement and 1969’s Mass Uprising.
At that time, Raihan felt the urgency of making a film based on both of these remarkable movements, and thus made his legendary film ‘Jeebon Theke Neya’ in 1970, considered an example of ‘National Cinema’, using discrete local traditions to build a representation of the Bangladeshi national identity. The classic is considered a milestone in Bangladeshi cinema.
During the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, Raihan began creating English documentary films on the subject, including ‘Let There Be Light’, which he could not finish because of the break out of the war. After the historic 25th March of 1971, he went to Calcutta and made his acclaimed documentary ‘Stop Genocide’, highlighting the massacre orchestrated by the Pakistani Army.
There he also showed his film ‘Jeebon Theke Neya’, which was highly acclaimed by legendary filmmakers, including Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen and Tapan Sinha. Despite his financial hardships at the time, he donated all the proceeds from the Calcutta event to the Freedom Fighters Trust.
In his short-spanned career as a writer, Raihan was successful in narrating some of the most prolific and true-to-life stories ever published in Bangladeshi literature, through his books -- Shesh Bikeler Meye, Arek Phalgun, Trishna, Borof Gola Nodi and most notably, Hajar Bochhor Dhore.
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Raihan had been married twice, to Sumita Devi in 1961 and Shuchonda in 1968, both popular film actresses. With Sumita, he had two sons named Bipul Raihan and Anol Raihan. With Shuchonda, he also had two sons named Opu Raihan and Topu Raihan.
On January 30, 1972, Raihan went missing while attempting to locate his brother, Shahidullah Kaiser, a well-known writer who was abducted and killed by the Pakistani Army and its local collaborators. Raihan is believed to have been killed by armed Bihari collaborators and the Pakistani Army hiding who had opened fire on them while they were travelling towards Mirpur in Dhaka.
For his excellence in filmmaking as a valiant patriot, Raihan was posthumously awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award (1972), Ekushey Padak (1977), Independence Day Award (1992) and Bangladesh National Film Awards (2005).
President condoles death of his fellow freedom fighter
President Abdul Hamid on Wedneaday expressed his condolence at the death of Priyatosh Sarkar, a senior lawyer of Kishoreganj Bar who fought along with the president in the 1971 War of Liberation.
The freedom fighter passed away at 7.35 am on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at President Abdul Hamid Medical College Hospital. He was 80.
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The President prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to his bereaved family.
READ: President condoles the death his school teacher Jobbar Master
New Delhi mission pays homage to Sheikh Kamal
Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Thursday paid homage to valiant freedom fighter Captain Sheikh Kamal on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Capt. Sheikh Kamal was assassinated along with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most members of his family on the brutal night of August 15 in 1975.
The 72nd birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal was observed with due solemnity through holding of discussion and placing wreaths at his portraits at Bangabandhu Corner at the chancery building.
Read: Sheikh Kamal’s birthday: PM releases postage stamp
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran led the officers and staff of the mission in laying the wreaths.
Adv Zead Al Malum a true patriot; inspired many: ICSF
International Crimes Strategy Forum (ICSF) on Monday said late Advocate Zead-al Malum, Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunals (ICTs), was a true patriot, and a trusted comrade of the highest order.
"If there ever was a citizen of Bangladesh who deserved every civilian State-honour for service to the nation, we believe it is Adv. Zead-al Malum. Those like us who had the honour and privilege to serve alongside him, will vouch for that without slightest hesitation," said the ICSF in a statement.
Read: ICSF demands constitutional recognition of 1971 genocide
His steadfast resolve in ending the impunity of crimes committed in 1971 and his remarkable faith in the resulting justice process has inspired many, it said.
ICSF will organise an event to discuss Advocate Zead-Al Malum’s contributions to the nation soon.
Read:USAID launches photography book 'Golden Jubilee of Golden Bengal'
ICSF said a valiant freedom fighter, valued prosecutor of the ICT, former member of the central committee of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), yet Adv. Zead-Al Malum never cared for recognition or glory. "He simply carried on with his mission and duties to history and the nation."
Advocate Zead-al Malum passed away on June 26.
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"We, at the International Crimes Strategy Forum, are deeply saddened by his untimely demise. He had been a pillar of strength for the Tribunal, an ever-vigilant sentinel who protected the ICT since day one with all he had against all adversities, conspiracies, and odds," ICSF said.
His departure, ICSF said, is a loss to both the nation and the ICT that will forever remain irreparable.
Freedom Fighter killed over land feud in Chattogram
A Freedom Fighter was beaten to death over land feud in Chattogram’s Mirsarai upazila on Friday afternoon.
The victim is Mohammad Shahjahan, 65.
According to his nephew Sohel Mostafa, the incident occurred at around 11:30am at the upazila’s Osmanpur area.
Shahjahan went to visit the disputed land with some of his family members when they came under attack.
Shahjahan was taken to Jorarganj Hospital from where the doctors sent him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
He died at around 2:30pm while being taken to CMCH.
Jorarganj Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Helal Uddin said they were on their way to Osmanpur.