Human chain protest to propaganda against heroic freedom fighter in Gopalganj

The demonstration took place in front of the Gopalganj Press Club of Bangabandhu Road at 10 am on Saturday (June 21), followed by a memorandum submitted to the District Commissioner.

Freedom fighters and local commanders formed a human chain and rally in Gopalganj to protest misleading news and social media propaganda labeling heroic freedom fighter Md. Mosharef Hossain Mollah as a "fake" freedom fighter. He was a freedom fighter of Chandradighaliya village in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila.

The demonstration took place in front of the Gopalganj Press Club of Bangabandhu Road at 10 am on Saturday (June 21), followed by a memorandum submitted to the District Commissioner.

This human chain program was organized by Gopalganj District and Sadar Upazila Muktijoddha Commands. In this hour-long program, freedom fighters stood in a long line holding each other's hands and expressed their anger and protest.

Freedom fighters including Gopalganj Zilla Parishad Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Sharif Rafiquzzaman, Bir Muktijoddha Sheikh Borhan Uddin, Chhabed Ali Bhuiyan and victimized Bir Muktijoddha Md. Mosharef Hossain Molla spoke at the human chain.

Later, after the human chain, the victimized freedom fighter Mosharef Hossain Molla read out a written statement at a press conference organized at the Gopalganj District Press Club.

Recently, a report published in the print and online versions of several media outlets including Jugantor, Bangla Tribune, Kalbela, Inqilab, Amar Barta has referred to him as a 'fake freedom fighter', which, according to his claim, is completely false, baseless and motivated.

In this regard, he said, I am a recognized freedom fighter of the great liberation war of 1971. My freedom fighter number is 01350005094 and Lal Muktibarta number is 109010278. My name is also in the gazette list of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. However, an attempt has been made to socially humiliate me based on incomplete and misleading information without any verification.

In support of his claim, he presented various government documents including the Muktibarta, the ministry's gazette, the freedom fighter identity card, and the freedom struggle certificate, saying that confusion has been spread about me based on the information from an incomplete list of applicants for the 2021 freedom fighter registration. However, my name is included in the official freedom fighter list of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila.

Mosharef Hossain Molla said that during the great liberation war, my younger brother and I went to India for training and later returned to the country and participated in the liberation war. Several members of our Molla family played an active role in the liberation war. It is very sad to call me a fake freedom fighter by ignoring that history.

He further alleged that his statement was not taken before the relevant report. He also claimed that the information was not verified from the local freedom fighter command, district administration, or relevant responsible persons. He demanded a fair investigation into the news published in the press conference, uncovering the real facts, and taking necessary action against those responsible for defaming him.

Earlier, speakers present at the human chain said that a group is systematically spreading misleading information to tarnish the honor of freedom fighter Mosharef Hossain Molla. They strongly condemned and protested against these propaganda and demanded that appropriate action be taken against those concerned.

In addition, the freedom fighters urged the administration to stop the propaganda and to verify the real facts before publishing news and to take necessary action against those who spread false news.

Later, a memorandum containing four demands was submitted to the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs through the Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner, demanding that those involved in such false propaganda about a freedom fighter be brought under strict punishment.