A bazaar has been opened at Sundarkathi village of Dudhal union under Bakerganj upazila of Barisal after the name of Sadek Ali Howlader, a collaborator of the Pakistan occupation forces during the Liberation War.
Nasrin Jahan Ratna, a lawmaker in reserve seats for women, also mayor of Bakerganj municipality, formally opened the bazaar yesterday as the chief guest.
Dudhal union Awami League President Abdul Mannan Molla, also a freedom fighter, presided over the function.
As per schedule, Jatiya Party lawmaker ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, also husband of Ratna, was to attend the programme as chief guest but he did not finally come.
Ruhul Amin is secretary general of Jatiya Party while Ratna is a vice chairman of the party's central committee.
Locals alleged that Sadek Ali's son Mostafa Howlader set up the bazaar by occupying land of Hindu community men.
When contacted over cell phone, Ratna said, “I did not know that the bazaar is named after a Razakar.”
“Sadek Ali Howladar formed 'peace committee' after March 26, 1971 to collaborate with Pakistani occupation army. This committee men tortured minority Hindu community people and looted their properties,” said Nur Hossain Khan, a freedom fighter of Dudhal union of Bakerganj, when contacted over cell phone.
“Sadek Ali gang looted our house and temple and later pro-liberation people organised groups to resist the gang,” said Manik Kumar Dash, a resident of the village.
Dudhal AL President Abdul Mannan Molla, said, “In July 1971, the pro-liberation forces burnt Sadek's house and lynched his nephew Dhalu at Goma Bazar. Later Sadek's brother-in-law Adbul Wahab was also lynched by freedom fighters at his Gazalia village home. Then Sadek and his associates took shelter of Pak occupation forces at Bakerganj Bandar.”
Himself a freedom fighter, Mannan, however, said, “Enmity is not universal'.
“After Bakerganj was liberated on December 7 in 1971, freedom fighters caught some collaborators of Pak occupation army including Sadek Ali Howlader and his two sons Mustafa Howlader and Nuru Howlader. Later they were freed following a general amnesty,” said Bazlur Rahman Khan, base commander of local freedom fighters.
Asked about their role during the Liberation War, Mustafa Howladar said, “We collaborated with the Pak army to save our life. Torture on the minority community was done by Pak occupation forces.”