Sayeedi case complainant buried under police security amid Jamaat protest

 
PIROJPUR, Oct 25: Manik Pashari, 87, a listed freedom fighter and complainant in the war crimes case against former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, was buried under heavy police security early on Sunday after Jamaat activists opposed his burial and his grave was filled in.

Manik Pashari, burial was delayed by 15 hours amid allegations of obstruction by local Jamaat leaders. Earlier on Saturday, Manik’s body was brought from Tungipara in Gopalganj to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Parishad premises.

Md Shariful Islam, officer-in-charge of Pirojpur Sadar Police Station said  that Pashari was buried around 2am in Chitolia village of Pirojpur Sadar Upazila in the presence of his wife and children. 

His family alleged that Jamaat leaders and activists obstructed the state honours due to him as a freedom fighter and opposed his burial in the district.

The family brought his body to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila council premises around noon on Saturday for a guard of honour. After the alleged obstruction, police took the body to the district police lines, where he received the honour around 5pm.

Police later escorted the family to Chitolia village, where the burial was completed under security.

Faruk Hossain, Pashari's son-in-law, said Pashari had been staying with him in Tungipara, Gopalganj, since August 5, 2024. He had been ill for two months and died around 10am on Saturday.

Pirojpur district Jamaat Assistant Secretary Abdur Razzak had described Pashari as a “fake” freedom fighter and opposed the guard of honour and burial in Pirojpur, according to the family.

Razzak later denied that his party had obstructed the burial, saying neither district Jamaat leaders nor its affiliated organisations had created any hindrance. He claimed the party had cooperated with police.

Masud Sayeedi, son of the late Jamaat leader, also said in a Facebook post that he had no objection to Pashari's funeral prayers or burial but disputed his freedom fighter status and opposed the guard of honour.