Removal of Barisal war memorial foundation sparks protests

The foundation, laid on the Victory Day in 1997 by people defying Section 144 by the then administration, was removed allegedly by the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) on Wednesday night.

Some shop owners in the area claimed that BCC employees and workers removed the foundation along with some big palm trees and completed expansion of a road there overnight for movement of the Prime Minister's convoy.

The Prime Minister on Thursday laid the foundation of a new court complex there.

As the news of demolition of the foundation stone spread in the city Thursday morning, hundreds of people visited the area and expressed their shock.

Syed Dulal, president of Barisal Sangskritik Shangathon Samanaya Parishad (cultural organizations' coordination committee)

expressed his deep shock and said BCC Mayor, who is also convener of the district freedom fighters organization, can not avoid the responsibility for removal of the foundation stone. Its leaders will sit today to decide an agitation programme, sources said.

Advocate Manabendra Botabyal, ex-president of the Barisal Bar Association and the Barisal unit of Udichi, a cultural forum, condemned the incident and demanded immediate restoration of the foundation stone at the same place.

Mintu Bose, president of Kheyali Group Theatre, Manirul Hasan Khan, joint secretary of district Awami League, Prof Mohsinul Islam Habul, Barisal divisional president of teachers association and leaders of other socio-political and cultural organisations also condemned demolition of the foundation stone and demand its restoration.

In 1997, people protested when BCC had leased the spot for construction of a market.

The lease had sparked agitation by people that led to clashes. After three months' agitation, thousands of people on December 16, 1997, defied Section 144 imposed in the area by the then district administration and laid the foundation for a Liberation War memorial.

A project for building a memorial and a children park there was approved and funds allocated, sources said.

When contacted, BCC Chief Executive Officer Ranjit Kumar Das said they removed the palm trees but not the foundation stone to widen the adjacent road.