Unauthorized Furniture Stall Occupies Abandoned Rajshahi Freedom Fighter Complex
Photo Collected
The Rajshahi Metropolitan Freedom Fighter Complex, a state-funded facility intended to honor the legacy of veterans, has been repurposed as a retail space for a furniture business, sparking controversy over unauthorized usage and a lack of official oversight. The building, which sits adjacent to the site of an annual three-week chariot festival in the city’s Sagarpara area, has hosted a furniture stall from Naogaon throughout the recent fair.
While street-side vendors at the fair were required to pay 15,000 taka in rental fees, the use of the 2,216-square-foot government facility remains shrouded in mystery. Vishwanath Sarkar, who is overseeing the shop, claimed that local freedom fighters granted them permission to use the ground floor space without charge. However, leadership figures within the veteran community and local government have disavowed any knowledge of the arrangement.
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Abdus Samad, convener of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Freedom Fighter Parliament, denied involvement in the leasing of the space or the collection of any funds. Similarly, the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner and the Rajshahi City Corporation’s revenue department confirmed they had no role in authorizing the commercial occupation of the building.
The complex is overseen by a management committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, with the District Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services serving as member secretary. Monira Khatun, the current Deputy Director, initially stated that the building was not intended for commercial use and that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Freedom Fighter Parliament. Despite promises to inspect the site following reports of the unauthorized activity, the shop remained in operation through the final day of the festival, and subsequent attempts to reach Khatun for comment have gone unanswered.
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The facility has been largely abandoned since August 5, 2024, when it was subjected to vandalism and looting that left it stripped of its electrical fixtures and equipment. Constructed under a Ministry of Liberation War Affairs project at a cost of approximately 2.5 million taka, the three-story building was officially handed over for use in July 2023. The incident has raised significant concerns regarding the security and administration of government-funded properties intended for public and commemorative purposes.
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