The local administration of Moheshpur in Jhenidah observed the 46th death anniversary of Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman with due respect yesterday.

Moheshpur Upazila Administration and Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman Degree College jointly organised a prayer session (milad Mahfil) and discussion at Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman Memorial museum yesterday morning in observance of martyrdom anniversary of national hero.

Lawmaker of Jhenaidah-3 constitution Nabi Newaz attended the programme as chief guest, while Professor Aminul Haque presided over the meeting. Hamzur Rahman, younger brother of Hamidur, Arifan Hossain Chowdhury Nuthan, freedom fighter commander Nazrul Islam, Abdul Zalil attended as special guests.

On this day in 1971, Hamidur Rahaman was killed by Pakistani occupation forces in a fierce battle on the Dholai frontier in Moulavibazar during the Liberation War.

A programme was chalked out for mass gathering and discussion at the Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman Degree College auditorium in the village.

The speakers discussed on the life and sacrifice of the heroic son during the liberation war in 1971 against the occupying Pakistani soldiers and urged upon the locals to express the exact history among the visitors, students and locals on the liberation movement.

They shouted that a vested corner has been trying to demoralize the theme of the independence motivating and leading the innocent people.

The lawmaker during the discussion had assured of talking necessary effective measures renaming the village of the Bir Shreshtha as "Hamidnagar" after the name of Hamidur Rahman. Earlier the guests and locals offered floral wreaths at the portrait of the Bir Shreshtha.

The people of Moheshpur have been demanding that Khorda Khalishpur village, bordering Moheshpur, be renamed as Hamidnagar. Their demand remains unfulfilled 45 years after his death.

 Some students of Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman Degree College said that although a degree college, primary school and road in the locality and a stadium in the district headquarters of Jhenidah have been named after the Bir Shreshtha, the village is yet to be named after the heroic son of the soil.

The local administration has been passing time to take measures in this regard, they added.

When contacted, the college principal, Aminul Haque, said the road constructed in the locality became unfit for use a few years back and needs repairs. Students of the college and other educational institutions have been facing problems because of the poor condition of the road.

 Villagers said farmers of the village and surrounding areas have a difficult time carrying their crops to local markets and are forced to sell the crops near their homes at a lower price.

 Hamjur Rahman, younger brother of Hamidur, thanked the present government for enhancing the honourium for the family. But he said the house, built at least 27 years back, became unfit a long time ago. The house might collapse anytime leading to a tragic accident as it was declared unfit a couple of years back.

 The engineers from a number of departments have visited the house and assured the inmates of immediate repair. But now, plasters are falling apart and cracks have developed on the roof.

 Hamjur said a former commissioner of Jhenidah had assured them of considering the demands of the people of Bir Shreshtha’s village, including renaming the village after Hamidur Rahman, reconstructing the dilapidated house and repairing roads at an early date.  

Hamjur and some of his family members said Hamidur grew up in Khordo Khalishpur village of Moheshpur, about 45 km from the district headquarters. He could not complete even secondary level education due to poverty. He joined the Pakistani Army under Z Force. He participated in the Liberation War against Pakistani occupation forces. He succumbed to his bullet wounds near the Dholai frontier in Moulavibazer on October 28, 1971.

Hamidur was born in Dumuria village of Nadia district in West Bengal of India.

 Kamrul Islam, upazila nirbahi officer of Moheshpur, said he was not aware on the death anniversary observance in the area.