Play store
PIROJPUR: The burial of freedom fighter Manik Pashari, 87, who testified against former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee before the International Crimes Tribunal in a crimes against humanity case related to the 1971 Liberation War, was completed late Saturday night amid objections to according him a guard of honour.
Radheshyam Sarkar, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Pirojpur Sadar Police Station, said Manik Pashari was buried at around 1:30am on Sunday in the family graveyard at his home in Chitalia village of Pirojpur Sadar upazila. Family members and relatives were present at the burial.
Tensions erupted in Pirojpur on Saturday over the decision to accord Manik Pashari a guard of honour. Some local people demanded that he not be buried there. During the incident, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists were seen gathering at and taking positions in several key locations in Pirojpur town.
However, Pirojpur district Jamaat Secretary Zahirul Haque said, “We had no objection to Manik Pashari’s burial. However, we did not provide any assistance either. We know nothing about under whose patronage and with whose assistance from the administration the burial took place.”
Manik Pashari was a resident of Chitalia village in Pirojpur Sadar upazila. According to his family members, he had been staying at his son-in-law’s house in Tungipara, Gopalganj, since August 5, 2024. After suffering from illness for two months, he died there at around 10am on Saturday.
Police sources said relatives brought his body to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Parishad around noon on Saturday. The body was later taken to the Pirojpur Police Lines, where he was accorded a guard of honour. He was subsequently buried at around 1:30am on Sunday.
Delawar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to imprisonment until death in a crimes against humanity case related to the 1971 Liberation War. He died in prison custody while undergoing treatment on the night of August 14, 2023.