Freedom fighter Sattar buried without state honours, UNO asked to explain

The burial of freedom fighter Abdus Sattar, 78, without state honours in Cumilla’s Brahmanpara has raised questions about the upazila administration’s role. His family alleged that Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Munni Islam failed to arrange a guard of honour despite repeated requests. The deputy commissioner has sought a written explanation from her.

Sattar died in Dhaka on Thursday (November 5). He hailed from Mahalaxmipara village in Brahmanpara Sadar union. During his career, he served in various government offices, including the communications and law ministries. He lived with his son in Dhaka towards the end of his life.

Relatives said his body reached his village home around 5:30pm on Thursday after his first namaz-e-janaza in Dhaka. Family members and fellow freedom fighters then waited for the state honours. After a long wait, with no representative of the upazila administration arriving, they buried him without a guard of honour.

Family members alleged that they had informed UNO Munni Islam several times, but no guard of honour was arranged on the grounds that evening had fallen.

Sattar’s brother Shahjahan said the family had wanted to bid farewell to his brother, who had fought with arms in the Liberation War, with the state honours he deserved. The failure to fulfil that wish had left the family deeply hurt.

Abdus Sattar Mollah, a freedom fighter from the same village, also expressed anger. He said administration representatives could at least have attended to pay their last respects, even if they could not arrange a guard of honour. Such a farewell to a fellow freedom fighter was painful for them, he said.

Brahmanpara Upazila Freedom Fighters Commander Idris Mia Master said he had remained in contact with the administration to arrange state honours and an armed salute. He alleged that the UNO took no necessary action, saying a guard of honour could not be held after dusk. Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Zahirul Haque, who attended the namaz-e-janaza, also described the incident as regrettable.

However, Brahmanpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Faruk Hossain said police had been prepared. Police personnel had been sent for the guard of honour, and a bugle team had also arrived from the police lines, he said. But police could not conduct the ceremony on their own without a representative of the upazila administration present.

The Document made repeated attempts to reach UNO Munni Islam on her mobile phone for comment on the allegations, but received no response.

Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Rozy Akter said the UNO had been asked to explain in writing why the freedom fighter had not received a guard of honour and why no administration representative had visited his home to offer condolences. The Chattogram divisional commissioner has also been informed. Further action will be decided after the explanation is received.