Local freedom fighters and civil society representatives in Madhabpur, Habiganj, have expressed deep indignation following the removal of murals depicting the four national leaders from a public memorial site dedicated to the 1971 Liberation War. The artwork, featuring Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain M Mansur Ali, and A H M Quamruzzaman, was dismantled from the Freedom Fighter Square situated adjacent to the historic Teliapara Monument in the Jagadishpur area.
Reports reveal that the murals had stood at the square for a considerable period, having been constructed originally using state funds allocated for preserving national heritage. Approximately a month ago, the former Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Madhabpur, Jahid Bin Kasem, ordered their removal after allegedly describing the portraits as “irrelevant” to the memorial site. The news of the dismantling quickly circulated through media outlets, triggering widespread anger among local veterans and community members.
The four figures depicted in the artwork hold foundational significance in Bangladesh’s independence movement. Operating alongside Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Syed Nazrul Islam served as Acting President, Tajuddin Ahmad as Prime Minister, Captain M Mansur Ali as Finance Minister, and A H M Quamruzzaman as Minister for Home Affairs and Relief within the historic Mujibnagar Government. Formed on 17 April 1971, this provisional administration directed the diplomatic strategy and armed resistance that led to the nation’s liberation, establishing their legacy as central pillars of Bangladesh’s sovereign narrative.
The decision to dismantle the memorial installation has drawn fierce criticism across generations. Following the recent administrative transfer of the former UNO, local freedom fighters launched public protests demanding the immediate reinstallation of the murals. Representatives of the Muktijoddha Santan Command, an association representing the offspring of wartime veterans, joined the demonstrations to reinforce these demands.
Criticising the unilateral action, veteran freedom fighter Abdus Shahid noted that the portraits were erected through legitimate public expenditure and held immense historical value for the regional community. He emphasised that the removal was executed without formal administrative consultation or transparent legal procedure, calling for a comprehensive official enquiry into the incident and swift accountability for those responsible.
Journalists and civic figures have similarly voiced concern over the administrative precedent. Former president of the Madhabpur Press Club, Md Olid Miah, publicly questioned the official rationale behind the decision in a widely circulated social media statement. He stressed that individuals who shaped the creation of sovereign Bangladesh deserve enduring honour above political shifts, warning that erasing foundational leaders from public squares establishes a dangerous precedent of historical revisionism that ultimately undermines the memory of all freedom fighters.
Repeated attempts to obtain an official statement from the current Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Madhabpur, Mehedi Hasan, were unsuccessful as telephone calls to his office went unanswered. Local veteran groups maintain that they will continue peaceful demonstrations until the administrative authority fully restores the murals to their designated location at the square.
