Hena Begum, the sister of the late freedom fighter Manik Pashari, has been forced to flee her village home alongside her relatives following alleged threats from local Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists. The intimidation came after she publicly identified party members involved in attempting to halt her brother’s state-honoured burial.

The victim fled her ancestral homestead in Chitalia village, located in the Shankarpasha Union of Pirojpur Sadar Upazila, on Wednesday. Her immediate family members had already abandoned their homes earlier due to mounting fear. Manik Pashari was a prominent witness before the International Crimes Tribunal in the crimes against humanity case against the late Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee. Following the political shifts of 5 August 2024, Pashari had been residing at his son-in-law’s residence in Tungipara, Gopalganj, where he passed away on the morning of 24 October after suffering from prolonged illness for two months.

Tensions erupted on the day of his demise over conveying a official guard of honour and interring his mortal remains in Pirojpur. Local groups protested against burying him in his native village, prompting Jamaat activists to gather across strategic points in Pirojpur town. Under police protection, Pashari’s relatives managed to complete his burial in the family graveyard late at night amid a pervasive atmosphere of fear.

The situation deteriorated further after relatives spoke out. Pashari’s brother, Panna Pashari, who resides in Batiaghata, Khulna, alleged that he was threatened and turned back from the Pirojpur Old Bus Stand on 24 October, preventing him from attending the funeral prayers. Speaking via telephone from an undisclosed location, Hena Begum explained that living in her modest home had become untenable due to continuous threats received after her media statements. She expressed severe anxiety over her safety and confirmed her intention to seek formal administrative protection.

Local political authorities have rejected the allegations. Ali Hossain, the Jamaat-e-Islami Amir for neighbouring Zianagar Upazila, stated that no party members had threatened or harassed Pashari’s relatives, dismissing the claims as completely untrue. Meanwhile, Pirojpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shoriful Islam maintained that the local situation remains calm. Although no untoward incidents were reported post-burial, police and village guards continue to monitor the area to ensure ongoing stability.