Betagi (Barguna) Correspondent

Questions have been raised about the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal committee in Betagi, Barguna.

It has been alleged that 4 dead persons, several members living abroad, controversial and holding positions in the Awami League have been included in the committee.

In addition, a controversial person is the president of the organization. The name of the same person is included in two places in the committee and a preferred person has been included in the committee. This is causing dissatisfaction and anger among the local freedom fighters.

A written complaint has been made to the Barguna District Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal regarding this.

It is reported that on November 27, 2024, the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal approved a 21-member Betagi Upazila branch committee signed by Barguna District President Md. Yusuf Ali Mridha and General Secretary Md. Monirul Islam Talukder.

The investigation revealed that the person who was given the responsibility as the president of the executive committee is Md. Altaf Hossain. He is an advisor to the Bangabandhu Parishad in Barishal, his son is an active member of the Barishal Metropolitan Chhatra League, and was the chief agent of Advocate Mizanur Rahman Khan, Bangladesh Congress-nominated candidate for the Barguna-2 constituency in the last parliamentary election during the fascist government.

Moreover, several local residents who did not want to be named alleged that his family was close to Abul Hasanat Abdullah, a voter and permanent resident of Barishal and a relative of his in-laws.

The Joint Secretary of the committee is Md. Shah Alam. He died in 2024. According to the list of the committee as the same person, his name is also included as member number 14 in another place along with the joint secretary at number 5. The co-organizing secretary of the committee, A. Malek, died in 2023. The vice-president of the committee, Sharif Ala Uddin Khan Dulal, is also deceased. The general secretary of the committee, Md. Khalilur Rahman, is also ill for a long time, permanently paralyzed and a beneficiary of several benefits during the Awami League period. He cannot walk normally. The deputy publicity secretary of the committee, Md. Shahjahan Mia, who lives permanently in America and is a citizen there, the committee member, Budev Karmakar, who is an expatriate from India and lives there. The committee member, Md. Altaf Hossain Khan, who is the union Awami League leader and vice-president of Betagi Upazila Awami League, is the elder brother of Professor Nawab Hossain, the chairman of the Bibichini Union Parishad. In addition, there are several members who occupy positions in the Awami League and are directly and indirectly involved with that political party.

According to sources from the Betagi Upazila Committee of the Nationalist Freedom Fighters Party, the approved executive committee has approved a 21-member committee including Altaf Hossain as the president, Vice President A: Rashid Khan, Sharif Ala Uddin Khan Dulal, General Secretary Md. Khalilur Rahman, Joint Secretary Md. Shah Alam, Publicity Secretary A: Wahab, Assistant Publicity Secretary Md. Shahjahan Mia, Organizing Secretary Abu Bakr Akon, Assistant Organizing Secretary A: Malek, Office Secretary A: Sobahan Munshi, Treasurer Sudhir Ranjan Mondal, members Md. Abdul Bari, Md. Barek Molla, Md. Shah Alam, Md. Dalil Uddin, Md. Sirajul Islam, Md. Abdur Malek, Budeb Karmakar, Md. Anwar Hossain, Md. Altaf Hossain Khan, Md. Muzafar Molla.

There are allegations of nepotism by local freedom fighters against them for inviting freedom fighters to the reception ceremony for freedom fighters on the occasion of the Victory Day celebration on December 16 and distributing blankets among the poor and helpless freedom fighters during the winter season.

Heroic freedom fighter A. Sobahan Munshi, Office Secretary of the Betagi Upazila Committee of the committee said, "I have heard that I have been named as the office secretary in that committee. I have informed that there was a meeting before and after the formation of the committee. However, I have not been called to any meeting till now. I cannot dislike anyone, but as a true freedom fighter, no matter what party or opinion he belongs to, there is no opportunity to disrespect anyone. Because everyone has sacrificed for the country."

Bir Muktijoddha Retired Principal Altaf Hossain, president of the Betagi Upazila Committee of the Nationalist Freedom Fighters' Party, said, "People may die sooner or later. This matter is not in anyone's hands." There were mistakes in the committee due to giving wrong information. Freedom fighters are the best children of the nation. It is not their fault that they can support any party in their hearts. I was in the Bangabandhu Research Council. But that was before. A friend had included names there by force.’

Barguna District Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddah Dal President Md. Yusuf Ali Mridha said, I have received a complaint regarding the Betagi Upazila committee. A decision will be taken in this regard by holding a meeting with the freedom fighters locally. If there are any from the Awami clan, they will be excluded. And the names of the deceased will be corrected and the committee will be reconstituted.

Meanwhile, a written complaint was submitted to the Barguna District Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddhas Dal demanding the inclusion of real freedom fighters loyal to the nationalist forces in the Betagi Upazila branch committee.