A Bir Freedom Fighter (FF) was buried without a state guard of honour in Brahmanpara upazila of Cumilla district, allegedly due to negligence and a lack of coordination on the part of the local administration, triggering widespread criticism across the area.
Abdus Sattar, 78, a veteran Freedom Fighter and resident of Mahalakshmipara village under Sadar Union of the Brahmanpara upazila, died in Dhaka on Thursday (November 5).
During his professional career, he served in several important government offices, including the Ministries of Communications and Law. He had been spending his final years in Dhaka with his son due to old age.
Following his death, his first namaz-e-janaza was held in Dhaka on Thursday before his body was brought to his ancestral village. The body reached the village at around 5:30pm, after which family members waited for the administration to arrange a state guard of honour.
However, no guard of honour was eventually given, and he was buried without the state recognition traditionally accorded to Freedom Fighters, his family members alleged.
Shahjahan, brother of the deceased, said they had wanted to bid farewell to his brother with the honour he deserved.
"We wanted to pay our brother the final tribute before laying him to rest, but that did not happen. A man who fought for nine months with a weapon in his hands to liberate the country was denied even the honour he deserved," he said.
Another Freedom Fighter from Mahalakshmipara village, Abdus Sattar Molla, described the incident as deeply painful.
"Even if a guard of honour could not be given after sunset, at least someone from the administration could have come to pay their final respects. But that did not happen either," he said.
Brahmanpara Upazila Muktijoddha Commander Idris Mia Master said he had maintained continuous communication with the administration to arrange the guard of honour and an armed salute.
However, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) had informed him that a guard of honour could not be given after sunset, he said.
Confirming the incident, Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Zahirul Haque said he had attended the deceased's funeral prayer.
"The entire area has been strongly criticising the failure to accord him a guard of honour. The incident is deeply regrettable," he said.
Brahmanpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Faruk Hossain said police had sent a full pickup van of personnel to provide the guard of honour. A team from the police lines had also arrived to play the bugle.
"However, as no representative of the upazila administration was present, the police could not independently conduct the guard of honour. We did attend the funeral prayer," he said.
Responding to the allegations, Brahmanpara UNO Munni Islam said a guard of honour was not given after sunset.
"We had made preparations, but there was uncertainty regarding the transportation of the body from Dhaka. Nobody contacted me after the Maghrib prayer, so it was not possible to arrange the guard of honour," she said.
Local residents have demanded an investigation into the incident and appropriate legal action against those found responsible.