Local freedom fighters and civil society members in Madhabpur, Habiganj, have voiced deep indignation following the removal of murals depicting the four national leaders from a monument dedicated to the Liberation War. The artwork, featuring Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain M Mansur Ali, and A H M Quamruzzaman, was dismantled from the Freedom Fighter Square adjacent to the historic Teliapara Monument in the Jagadishpur area.
Reports indicate that the murals had been permanently installed at the square for a considerable period, having been constructed originally using government funds. However, approximately a month ago, the former Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Madhabpur, Jahid Bin Kasem, ordered their removal after allegedly labeling the images “irrelevant” to the site. The news of the dismantling quickly circulated through national media outlets, triggering widespread resentment among local veterans and the broader community.
The four leaders represented in the artwork played an indispensable role during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Operating under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Syed Nazrul Islam served as the Acting President, Tajuddin Ahmad as the Prime Minister, Captain M Mansur Ali as the Finance Minister, and A H M Quamruzzaman as the Minister for Home Affairs and Relief in the historic Mujibnagar Government. Formed on 17 April 1971, this provisional government directed the military campaign and diplomatic efforts that ultimately secured the nation’s independence. Their collective contribution remains a foundational pillar of Bangladesh’s sovereign identity.
The decision to remove the images has drawn sharp criticism from veterans and youth organisations alike. Following the administrative transfer of the former UNO, local freedom fighters openly condemned the act and gathered to demand the immediate restoration of the murals. Leaders of the Muktijoddha Santan Command, an association comprising the children of freedom fighters, joined the protest to echo these calls.
Highlighting the arbitrary nature of the decision, veteran freedom fighter Abdus Shahid stressed that the portraits were established through legitimate public funding and held significant historical value. He stated that the removal occurred without any formal procedure or transparent rationale, demanding a thorough administrative investigation into the incident alongside appropriate accountability.
Journalists and community representatives have also expressed grave concern over the precedent set by such actions. Former president of the Madhabpur Press Club, Md Olid Miah, publicly questioned the motives behind the decision in a widely shared social media statement. He emphasized that figures who played decisive roles in the founding of sovereign Bangladesh deserve permanent respect regardless of political shifts. Erasing historical leadership from public monuments, he warned, establishes a damaging culture of historical denial that could eventually compromise the legacy of all freedom fighters.
Efforts to secure an official response from the current Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Madhabpur, Mehedi Hasan, proved unsuccessful as multiple telephone calls to his office went unanswered. Local veterans maintain that they will continue to press their demands until the murals are fully restored to their rightful place at the square.
