Shillong, Apr 6: A 71-year-old former freedom fighter was assaulted in Bangladesh for being vocal against the “insult of muktijoddhas”.
AKM Fajlul Haque, who joined the liberation war at the age of 16, was beaten up by a group of anti-socials at his residence at Sarishabari in Jamalpur. The incident happened on March 30, a day before Eid
Last August, Haque participated in a gathering that was protesting against the anti-quota demand in the country.
Last year, a massive student protest started in Bangladesh over quotas accorded to muktijoddhas in government jobs. It turned into a protest against the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party, the Awami League. Finally, Hasina had to leave the country.
Speaking to Meghalaya Monitor on the phone from Bangladesh, Haque said it was sad that the muktijoddhas, who played a crucial role in liberating East Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh, were harassed and insulted in this manner.
“I am 71 and they manhandled me. I was insulted for speaking up,” he added.
Bangladesh is still in a state of turmoil. The country now has a military-backed interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Also read: Mukti joddhas remember their journey towards a new nation
