28 eminent citizens condemn obstruction of freedom fighter Manik Poshari's burial in Pirojpur

Twenty-eight eminent citizens have expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the obstruction by Jamaat-e-Islami of the burial of valiant freedom fighter Manik Poshari and the state guard of honour in Pirojpur. They said this in a joint statement sent to the media on Saturday.

In the statement, they said creating obstruction to a person's funeral prayer and burial because of their political position or past role is in no way acceptable. They noted that it is a violation of fundamental human rights.

Signatories to the statement include human rights activist Advocate Sultana Kamal, Khushi Kabir, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, senior lawyer Z I Khan Panna, Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam, and photographer Shahidul Alam, among 28 citizens.

The statement said the situation created in Pirojpur over the guard of honour and burial after the death of valiant freedom fighter Manik Poshari on 24 October was extremely sad, undesirable and condemnable.

According to information from various sources cited in the statement, after a grave was dug the first time, local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists filled it in. Later, after about 2am, Manik Poshari's daughter and two sisters, with the help of village police, dug the grave again by mobile phone light and completed his burial under police security about 15 hours after his death.

The statement further said that, under state rules, an initiative was taken to bury Manik Poshari with a guard of honour as a freedom fighter. But Jamaat-e-Islami obstructed the burial by raising the question of whether he was a freedom fighter.

The citizens said only the state has the power to determine whether a person officially recognised as a freedom fighter is a freedom fighter. No political party or group can give that decision.

The statement said Jamaat-e-Islami opposed the Liberation War in 1971. Allegations of war crimes, including the killing of intellectuals, against many of the party's leaders have been documented. Yet they have not so far admitted responsibility for these crimes or publicly apologised for opposing the Liberation War.

The citizens said the acts committed against Manik Poshari amount to a criminal offence. They noted that burying a deceased person with due dignity is a teaching and obligatory practice of all religions, including Islam.

The statement strongly demanded appropriate strict legal action, subject to a fair investigation, against those involved in the incident.