Freedom Fighter Abdul Rouf Sarkar Laid to Rest in Gazipur

Freedom fighter Haji Mohammad Abdul Rouf Sarkar was laid to rest on Tuesday following his funeral prayers at the field of Khilgaon Government Primary School, near Pubail College in Gazipur. Family members, local residents, relatives and well-wishers attended the prayers before he was buried in the presence of members of his family and the local community.

Abdul Rouf died at the age of 73 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital late on Monday night. News of his death brought grief to his family, relatives, fellow freedom fighters, local residents and those who knew him. Many mourners recalled his role as a freedom fighter and expressed sorrow at the passing of a member of the generation that took part in Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

His death leaves behind two sons, two daughters, grandchildren and numerous relatives, friends and admirers. For his family, his passing marks the loss of a beloved father and an elder whose presence had been an important part of their lives. For people who knew him in his community, it also represents the departure of a freedom fighter whose life was connected to one of the defining chapters in the country’s history.

His younger son, Abubakar Sarkar, is a Bangladesh Civil Service officer and currently serves as the private secretary to the State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock. The death of his father has brought profound sorrow to the family, who have received condolences from relatives, acquaintances and well-wishers.

The school field where the funeral prayers were held became a gathering place for mourners on Tuesday afternoon. Family members, local residents and others who knew Abdul Rouf assembled there to pay their final respects. After the prayers, those present prayed for the forgiveness and peace of the departed soul and offered their condolences to the bereaved family.

Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin ur Rashid and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku also expressed deep sorrow at the death of the veteran freedom fighter. In separate condolence messages, they prayed for the salvation of his departed soul and conveyed their sympathy to his grieving family.

The passing of Abdul Rouf comes against the wider backdrop of a generation of Bangladeshis who participated in the 1971 Liberation War gradually reaching the end of their lives. The freedom fighters who survived the conflict remain an important part of the country’s national memory, carrying personal experiences of a period that shaped Bangladesh’s history and identity.

As members of that generation pass away, families and communities are increasingly losing individuals who directly experienced the country’s struggle for independence. Their lives, sacrifices and memories remain closely linked to the history of Bangladesh and continue to hold significance for succeeding generations.

Abdul Rouf’s death has therefore been mourned not only by his immediate family but also by relatives, friends, fellow freedom fighters and members of his local community. Following his funeral and burial, his family appealed to everyone to pray for his departed soul and for the strength of those left behind to cope with their loss.