Tension gripped Pirojpur district on Saturday (October 19) over the burial plans of valiant Freedom Fighter Manik Pashari, a key prosecution witness in the 1971 war crimes case against former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, following protests and the deployment of Jamaat activists across prominent locations in the town.
Pashari, a resident of Chitlia village in Shankarpara Union of Pirojpur Sadar Upazila, passed away at the age of his illness around 10:00 AM on Saturday while staying at his daughter's residence in Tungipara of Gopalganj district, where he had been residing since August 5, 2024. Following his demise, family members brought his mortal remains to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila complex at approximately 12:00 PM before transferring the body to the Pirojpur police lines, where he was accorded a state guard of honour.
However, the ceremonial tribute triggered immediate friction as a local faction raised strong objections against burying Pashari within Pirojpur. Simultaneously, leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami were observed taking positions at various strategic intersections throughout the town, escalating local anxieties regarding public order.
Addressing the developments, Pirojpur District Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary Abdur Razzaq stated that party members deployed themselves across different areas strictly to prevent any untoward incidents that could be unjustly blamed on Jamaat. While maintaining that they harboured no objections to the burial of a deceased individual, Razzaq contended that Pashari was not a legitimate freedom fighter and expressed strong opposition to the official guard of honour accorded to him.
Providing an update on the law and order situation, Pirojpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shariful Islam stated that Pashari's body remained inside the police lines following the guard of honour as family members continued efforts to arrange his interment in Pirojpur. Police authorities noted that subsequent steps would be determined upon normalization of the situation and receipt of directives from high-ranking officials.
The background of the tension traces back to the 1971 Liberation War tribunal proceedings, where Pashari had testified as a prosecution witness against former Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Delwar Hossain Sayeedi. Sayeedi, who had been sentenced to imprisonment until death for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Independence War, died on the night of August 14, 2023, while undergoing treatment under custody.
