By Sanjoy Kumar Barua
In a shocking incident from Chauddagram, Cumilla, an 89-year-old Bangladeshi freedom fighter, Abdul Hai, was publicly humiliated and forced to leave his home.
The incident, which went viral after a two-minute video surfaced on social media, has sparked outrage across the country.
The video shows Hai being paraded with a garland of shoes around his neck, an act he says was motivated by his identity as a freedom fighter and a supporter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s ideology.
According to Abdul Hai, a group of 10 to 12 local individuals, allegedly linked to Islamist hardliners, attacked and humiliated him in front of Kuliyara Primary School on Sunday afternoon.
The attackers reportedly filmed the assault, and the footage quickly spread online.
Hai claims the humiliation was orchestrated by individuals connected to the local Jamaat-Shibir faction, though the group’s leaders have denied any involvement.
With tears in his eyes, Hai expressed his despair.
“After this humiliation, what’s the point of living? Is this the country I fought for during the Liberation War?”
Hai, who served as a platoon commander in the 4th Sector under Commander Chitta Ranjan Dutta during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, recounted how he was tortured and forced to wear the garland of shoes at knifepoint.
Mahfuzur Rahman, the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami in Chauddagram Upazila, has claimed that no member of Jamaat was involved in this incident.
The viral incident has drawn the attention of local authorities, with Cumilla District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan assuring that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Meanwhile, Hai has been forced to flee the area due to fear for his safety.
The incident has ignited widespread criticism and raised questions about the safety and respect for war veterans in Bangladesh, with many demanding swift justice for Abdul Hai.
War hero Hai’s tragic ordeal stands as a poignant reminder of the growing divide between the ideals of 1971 and the fanaticism of today’s Bangladesh.
