A unique way to honour war heroes

Kurigram is set to recognise its Liberation War heroes in a different way when the country celebrates its 48th anniversary of Independence Day tomorrow.

The district administration, as part of its plan to preserve the memories of the freedom fighters who actively took part in the Liberation War in 1971, have already initiated a move to collect hand imprints of each living freedom fighter.

Apart from the palm imprints, to be painted in red on white papers, the district administration authorities have also decided to tag photographs of the freedom fighters with brief information of the role they played in the Liberation War.

The idea of preserving palm imprints is something new and aimed at keeping the war heroes etched in our memories forever.

Palm imprints and information of freedom fighter Shirajul Islam Tuku. Photo: Abdul Wahed

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sultana Pervin launched the initiative at the Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium on March 7. Kurigram Superintendent of Police Mehedul Karim, Civil Surgeon Dr Aminul Islam and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Al-Amin Parvez also attended the programme along with a few hundred freedom fighters of the district.

While detailing the unique initiative, UNO Al-Amin Parvez said that they were collecting palm imprints on six sets of hard-paper copies from each living freedom fighter.

Each of the six copies will contain a photograph, identity and brief information of the freedom fighter's role in the Liberation War,” said Parvez, adding that they wanted to preserve those at six different places including the UNO and DC offices concerned and the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.  

He also said the palm imprinting and other works for archiving the information of 367 living freedom fighters of Sadar upazila would be completed before March 26.

“We are arranging a special programme in recognition of those 367 freedom fighters on March 26,” said Parvez, adding that the archiving of the brief biographical information of freedom fighters of the other eight upazilas in Kurigram would be hopefully completed by the end of this month.

The official list of freedom fighters in Kurigram Sadar upazila includes names of 614 persons entitled to get allowance.

Asked about the administration's plan regarding the deceased freedom fighters, the UNO said, “Biographical information of the rest 247 freedom fighters [who are not alive] will also be added with that of the living ones as those will be preserved in the form of a book.”

Appreciating the initiative, freedom fighter Shirajul Islam Tuku said, “Many of our fellow freedom fighters are no more. We are happy that the administration is doing something to preserve the memories of the freedom fighters.”

“It would be better if copies of the papers containing information with palm imprints of freedom fighters are displayed in primary schools of the union where the freedom fighters concerned were born,” said Abdul Hai Sarker, who received gallantry award Bir Protik for his valiant role in the Liberation War.

DC Sultans Pervin said freedom fighters are passing away one after another and the initiative taken will hopefully be helpful in preserving their memories in future.