Uproar in Joypurhat as Ziaur Rahman's photo missing from banner; state minister orders probe

An uproar broke out at a discussion meeting in Joypurhat organised to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day, after the banner carried no photo of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was addressed as 'Bangabandhu' and 'Father of the Nation'. State Minister for Public Administration and Food Abdul Bari expressed anger over the incident and ordered an investigation, while Deputy Commissioner Al-Mamun Mia apologised for the error in the banner.

The meeting was scheduled to be held at 10am on Saturday (November 7) at the District Shilpakala Academy, organised by the district administration. However, it could not start on time because Ziaur Rahman's photo was missing from the banner. BNP leaders and activists expressed anger over this. The programme began only after a poster bearing Ziaur Rahman's photo was taped onto the main banner with scotch tape.

At the meeting, Maruf Hasan, general secretary of the Joypurhat municipal branch of Zia Parishad, spoke on the significance of National Revolution and Solidarity Day. At one point in his speech, he addressed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman several times as 'Father of the Nation' and 'Bangabandhu'. Tension spread through the venue. District Chhatra Dal president A K M Golam Mahfuz and several other leaders and activists angrily advanced towards the dais. The meeting resumed after Maruf Hasan was removed from the dais to calm the situation. State Minister Abdul Bari was present on the stage at the time.

Deputy Commissioner Al-Mamun Mia publicly expressed regret and apologised for the flaw in the banner. He said the banner had been made using photos collected from the internet, which is why the mistake happened.

In his speech as chief guest, State Minister Abdul Bari expressed anger over the various flaws in the programme. He said, 'If the incident was deliberate, action will definitely be taken.' He directed the deputy commissioner and the district council administrator to look into the matter.

Expressing anger over the incident, district BNP joint convener M A Wahab and district council administrator and district BNP joint convener Masud Rana said the day is being observed after 19 long years, yet a banner was made without Ziaur Rahman's photo, which is extremely painful. They alleged that the incident was an expression of a conspiracy by collaborators of fascism inside the administration.

Police Superintendent Shahnaz Begum, Civil Surgeon Al-Mamun, district BNP convener Golzar Hossain and others also spoke at the discussion meeting.