Abdul Kader Siddique, president of the Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), prevented Sakhipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), because of being a woman from giving a guard of honor to deceased freedom fighter Abdul Hamid.
The incident happened on Saturday afternoon at Sakhipur PM Pilot Model School and College premises as people were getting ready for the state honors ceremony for the late freedom fighter.
Recognized as Bangabir, Kader Siddique admitted of doing it.
According to local sources, Abdul Hamid Khan breathed his last at his residence in Sakhipur Bazar at around 12:30 am on Saturday.
Sakhipur UNO, Farjana Alam went to Abdul Hamid Khan's namaz-e-janaza on Saturday afternoon to give him a guard of honor.
At that moment, Kader Siddique stopped the UNO from performing the guard of honor and instead asked a male officer to do so.
After the UNO left, the freedom fighter's namaz-e-janaza was held.
However, after Kader Siddique had left the premises, the freedom fighter was buried with a guard of honor led by the female UNO on the deputy commissioner's orders.
In a brief speech before the namaz-e-janaza, Kader Siddique addressed the female UNO and said that no female could offer a guard of honor to freedom fighters.
“The female UNO came here and insulted the freedom fighter. If Bangabandhu were alive now, I would have sent many officials here to Dhaka,” he said.
He also demanded that the UNO be removed from Sakhipur by the next day for disrespecting a heroic freedom fighter.
After mentioning Abdul Hamid Khan as a famous freedom fighter, Kader Siddique continued to say that Bangladesh gained independence, but the freedom fighters were not given due respect.
“I am very hurt that no one came to give the guard of honor to this valiant freedom fighter until 2pm, even though he died around 12am. No matter how empowered a woman is, she cannot participate in a namaz-e-janaza,” he added.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Farjana Alam said she did not go to participate in the namaz-e-janaza instead she just went to offer the guard of honor to the freedom fighter.
“Bangabir Kader Siddique insulted me in front of a thousand people. There is no doubt that Kader Siddique is a great freedom fighter. I have no complaint against him,” she added.
