He was hanged for his coldblooded savagery unleashed upon the Bangalees during the Liberation War. But in a mockery of martyrdom, his tombstone reads: Shaheed (martyr) Abdul Quader Mollah.

The tombstone was set up on Quader Mollah's grave at Faridpur's Sadarpur upazila two months after his execution for war crimes on December 12, 2013.

Local freedom fighters have described it as an insult to those who laid down their lives for independence.

The hanging of Mollah, who earned the nickname "Butcher of Mirpur" for his sinister role during the war, had brought relief to the people who waited 42 years to see justice done. But the plaque comes as a fresh blow to their sentiments. 

"The use of the word 'martyr' before his name is an offence," said Abul Fayez Shah Newaz, commander of Faridpur Muktijoddha Sangsad.

"The word should be removed and those who used it should be punished," he demanded.

Contacted, Quader Mollah's brother Mainuddin Mollah said the local Jamaat office made the decision to use the word and the plaque was set up in line with the decision.

"But we the family members also believe that he is a martyr," said Mainuddin, also chairman of Bhashanchar union.

But Faridpur Jamaat chief Prof Abdut Toab claimed the plaque was set up by locals.

He added the party office had nothing to do with it although they considered him a martyr.

Freedom fighter Aminur Rahman Farid said Quader Mollah was a murderer.

"A murderer can't be a martyr," he said, calling on the administration to dismantle the tombstone.

On April 22, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Roksana Rahman said, "We are taking steps to remove the plaque."

Contacted again last evening, she said the process to take it down was underway.