Garo tribal Ruindra Marak Ebendra died in Lauchapara village of Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur district in January 2021. After his death, he was given a guard of honor by the local administration. But two years after his death, his freedom fighter allowance was stopped on a false complaint. As a result, his family is suffering from poverty.
Local freedom fighters said the allegations were false. Still, the allowance for a tribal freedom fighter was stopped without any verification. The name of the late freedom fighter was not deleted. His whole family is in trouble. After taking over the land of this Garo tribal freedom fighter, a Bengali filed a complaint against him. He made this complaint through Subendra Sangma, who is another Garo tribal.
Subendra Sangma complained to the Ministry of Freedom Fighters in March 2023, after two years since the death of freedom fighter Ruindra Marak in Bakshiganj, bordering Jamalpur. Who claims Ruindra Marak as his father and wants to get a Freedom Fighter allowance. But Subendra Sangma’s father’s name is Mahendra Marak, according to his national identity card. Even on her mother’s national identity card, her husband’s name is Mahendra Marak. However, the Ministry stopped the allowance of a freedom fighter without this little verification.
Ruindra Marak’s son, Joy Dangu, said that, not being able to collect money, I borrowed some money from an NGO and went to the Ministry of Freedom Fighters with some freedom fighters. After going, there was a meeting with the minister. Despite his assurances, the allowance has stopped.
Ruindra Marak’s wife, Milan Dangu, said, “We have been getting freedom fighter allowance for almost 50 years. But for the last nine months, we have gotten nothing. Allowance stopped.
Shah Alam, the second in command of the liberation war in Bakshiganj, said, Ruindra fought under me. He trained with me. If the self-proclaimed freedom fighter was a true freedom fighter, he would have met me. I have never seen him.
Chamiul Haque, another freedom fighter in Bakshiganj, said that the government has been giving allowances for 52 years. But suddenly got a complaint and stopped it. Does it have any laws? Another freedom fighter, Sirajul Haque, said that someone in the government must have taken money for it. Or they would listen to us. From this, it means that they have committed corruption. If such activities happen while we are alive, what happens when we die? It is an insult to the liberation war.
In 1975, when Bangabandhu was killed by his family, Ruindra Marak protested. He was jailed for 7 years for this.
Even though he got allowance for 52 years, the allowance of Ruindra, who fought to liberate the country, was stopped on false allegations. The Ministry of Freedom Fighters did not think it necessary to conduct any kind of investigation. 25 percent of the land of this Garo freedom fighter is in the possession of a local Bengali named Jasim. And the family of the brave freedom fighter is living in the forest, the government’s land.
Accused Subendra Marak refused to speak when contacted. However, the Ministry of Freedom Fighters assured that they would look into the complaint.
