<i>The last and only wish of FF Nosimuddin</i>
At 84, the Liberation War hero still wants to die after state recognition
At the age of 84, freedom fighter Nosimuddin wishes to die after getting recognition from the government. The Liberation War veteran is now passing his days in a sorrowful condition with his wife Rabeya Begum and their physically challenged son at Karnopur Majhatari village under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. “Nosimuddin used to collect information about movements of Pakistani soldiers and their camps, drew maps on them and submitted to the freedom fighters' commander,” recalled his co-fighter Amal Chandra of Moghulhat village. “The maps drawn by him helped freedom fighters to conduct operations against the occupation forces. Thus he worked as a guide during the Liberation War,” he added. “I fought against Pakistani forces in Sector 6 under the command of the then Wing Commander AKM Bashar,” Nosimuddin said wistfully. “Other freedom fighters tell their stories to the new generation on various occasions, especially on Independence Day and Victory Day. They join different programmes but I have to remain silent with my glorious stories kept in my heart. All of my co-fighters have been getting benefit from the government. But my name is not even in the list of freedom fighters. People do not even know me,” he added. “After submitting applications four times since 2004, I wrote another one on October 1, 2010 to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs with the recommendation of our local commander. But I am yet to get any response,” Nosimuddin said on Sunday. His wife Rabeya Begum said, “We have been living in a hut. I work as day labourer earning Tk 30 to 50 a day that is barely enough.” Freedom fighter Osman Ali said, “Nosimuddin was our co-fighter. I wonder why his name was not put in the list of freedom fighters. Our other co-fighters including Gofur Miah, Amal Chandra, Joynal Haque, Bacchu Miah, Nur Jamal, Shamsul Haque of the village got recognition from the government and people pay respect to them.” “Families of other freedom fighters are well respected in the society. But we are isolated as my father's name was not included in the list,” said Nosimuddin's daughter Rosna Begum. The commander of Lalmonirhat district freedom fighters' unit Yasuf Ali said his office has already sent letter to the ministry concerned for including Nosimuddin in the freedom fighters' list but they are yet to get any response.
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