Month of Victory
<i>'We pass hard days while razakars live well'</i>
Abdul Latif Howlader and Rabeya Begum
A number of freedom fighters in the district are today leading a life of the destitute. Abdul Latif Howlader, 75, of Dewli village in Mirzaganj upazila under the district feels defeated in life as he has to beg for survival, 41 years after the independence. The condition of Rabeya Begum, 77, wife of a martyred freedom fighter of Dhulia village in Baufal upazila is no better. Seeing Abdul Latif begging on Dewli Bazar Road a few days ago, this correspondent introduced himself to him. Visibly embarrassed with the plastic bag containing alms in his hand, a tearful Latif said, "I fought against Pakistan occupation forces with arms in these hands but now I have to beg to live. I worked in the Pakistan army but left the job to join the Liberation War." "All my dreams have vanished as freedom fighters like me are passing hard days while anti-liberation people are living well," he said. "I took part in the Liberation War under our local commander Altaf Hyder. We attacked Betagi police station under Barguna district and freed it after an overnight battle in mid November of 1971. Later we attacked Bamna police station under the same district, forcing the occupation army to flee to the Sundarbans. We chased them there and arrested some Pakistan soldiers. "On December 7 night, we attacked Patuakhali town and the Pakistan army left for Dhaka by a steamer. The next day, our commander Altaf Hyder raised the national flag in Shaheed Alauddin Children's Park in the district town," said Latif. "The Tk 2,000 monthly allowance I am getting as a freedom fighter is too scanty. My mother is very old and sick. She is badly suffering from eye disease but I have no ability to arrange her treatment," said landless Latif who lives in a small hut. Aggrieved due to his poor condition, his first wife and then the second wife left him. Latif's two sons also struggle to maintain their families. Rabeya Begum, 77, wife of Amir Ali, a martyred freedom fighter of Dhulia village under Baufal upazila, also lives by begging. During the war her husband supplied food for freedom fighters and colleted information for them. At one stage the Pak army killed him. "My husband sacrificed his life for the country but nobody takes care of me. I am not getting any benefit from the government. All of my four sons left me after their marriage," she said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments