Dhaka — Cultural, human rights and political groups on Monday condemned a campaign to humiliate and intimidate Freedom Fighter Advocate Fazlur Rahman after 10–12 people gathered outside his Segunbagicha home, chanting abusive slogans.
In separate statements, the Sammilita Sangskritik Parishad (Joint Cultural Council), rights group Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh urged authorities to ensure Rahman’s safety and bring perpetrators to justice.
Fazlur Rahman, a veteran of the 1971 Liberation War and an adviser to the BNP chairperson, has appeared frequently on television talk shows. Since August 2024, he has gained prominence for his outspoken criticism of radical Islamist groups and his opposition to efforts to erase the history and ideals of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
Cultural coalition decries “attempt to silence”
A statement signed by Sammilit Sangskritik Parishad convener Rokeya Prachi and member-secretary FM Shaheen said Rahman was being “deliberately insulted” because he has opposed efforts to “erase monuments and the history of the Liberation War.”
The group called the incident not merely an attack on one man but “an extreme contempt” for the freedom-fighter community and national history.
More than 50 eminent figures at home and abroad endorsed the statement, including artist Tajul Imam; freedom fighter and Sweden district-court juror Akhter Zaman; Dhaka University sociologist Dr. A.K.M. Jamal Uddin; Elizabeth City University (US) professor Dr. Shyamal Kumar Das; Norway-based scholars Md. Sadiq Hasan and Prof. Ishtiaq Jamil; researcher Aminur Rahman; poet Saifullah Mahmud Dulal; Secular Bangladesh Movement UK president Pushpita Gupta; ICSF trustee Dr. Raihan Rashid; law scholar Prof. Hafizur Rahman Karzon; Jagannath University’s Dr. S.M. Masum Billah; physician-poet Milton Hasnat; film director Aruna Biswas; journalist Riaz Haider Chowdhury; US-based journalist Dastagir Jahangir; Australian journalist Fazlul Bari; and singer Monika Rounak Babli, among others. The signatories said it is a “moral, social and state responsibility” to maintain the dignity of those who secured independence.
Rights group cites constitutional guarantees
ASK warned that mobilizing crowds to intimidate a citizen “terrorizes and blocks society as a whole,” and violates constitutional protections of life and security (Articles 31 and 32) and freedoms of thought, conscience and expression (Article 39).
Failure by the state to protect those rights, ASK said, would breach both the Constitution and Bangladesh’s international commitments. The organization urged “effective measures” to halt mob politics.
Political parties call for protection and accountability
In its Monday statement, JSD argued that the incident shows “mobsters are being nurtured under the shelter of the government” and accused authorities of suppressing freedom fighters and dissent. It called on political and social forces to resist mob intimidation and the stifling of opposing views.
The Workers’ Party Politburo on Tuesday condemned attempts by “anti-liberation forces” to blockade Rahman’s home and incite mob terror. Describing Rahman as a respected, non-communal democrat, party leaders said disagreement with his televised commentary should be addressed through democratic means, not threats and siege tactics. The party demanded guarantees for Rahman’s security and rights and urged unity among “forces of the Liberation War.”
Why this incident resonates
Respect for freedom fighters is a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s civic identity. Civil-society leaders say public humiliations—such as shoe-throwing imagery—carry symbolic weight, signaling the normalization of harassment against veterans and critics alike. The Parishad’s language about “erasing monuments and history” reflects broader fears about contested narratives of 1971 and the dignity of those who fought.
Wider climate of volatility
The condemnations arrive amid a year of political turbulence. Since August 5, 2024, Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, backed by elements of the military and Islamist groups. Rights monitors allege widespread abuses, including killings, politically motivated charges, and pressure on the media and academia.
Minority communities have reported targeted attacks and property damage, while access to government facilities has been restricted to vetted journalists with temporary passes. These allegations, disputed by interim authorities, form the backdrop against which incidents like the harassment of a prominent freedom fighter are being read by civil society.
Calls for action
Across statements, a common set of demands emerged: ensure Rahman’s personal security; investigate and prosecute those responsible for the intimidation; and recommit to constitutional rights for all citizens regardless of political affiliation. Supporters argue that swift, transparent action would help deter vigilante tactics and reaffirm the rule of law.
Notable figures who condemned attacks on Fazlur Rahman include: Sadika Yasmin, writer, host, program producer and activist; Turya Kazi; Freelance artist Arjun Manna; Jasmine Chowdhury, social justice campaigner; Rana Meher, social activist and political analyst; Tamal Mahbub, actor and director; Adiba Jahan, social activist; Priyanka Elffrost, security engineer; Mustafa Kayes Emon, expatriate in Canada; writer Ahmed Mansur; poet and playwright Sayem Uddin; story writer Shanezul Islam; photojournalist Aminul Islam; writer Nasir Uddin Haider; Hasan Nasir; poet Kaniz Fatema Chowdhury; photojournalist Jewel Shil; Zakirul Haque Titon, editor and publisher, Khabarwala; Md. Moniruzzaman, organizer and painter; Bani Yasmin, editor, Bibarta; Khandaker Ismail, media personality; Khorshedul Alam Khosru, film producer; Anamika Priyavasini, human rights activist; Mushfiqur Gulzar, Filmmaker; Shah Alam Kiran, Filmmaker; Dr. Masud Pathik, Poet and Filmmaker; Simon Sadiq, Film Actor; Toufiq Maruf, Senior Journalist and Analyst; Al Amin Babu, Organizer and Music Artist; Nahar Momtaz, President, All European Bangabandhu Foundation, Sweden; Violet Halder, Editor and Publisher, Shomo Shabd; Murad Khan, Managing Director, Rapid Security Services Limited, Netherlands; Shayla Ahmed Lopa, Social Activist and Media Worker; Ferdousi Hasan, Social Activist; Dipanbita Roy Martin, Host and Media Worker; Tuhin Das, Poet, America; Saif Sams, Engineer, Norway; Mahbubul Haque, Media Worker; Anirban Bhattacharya, Theatre Worker; Qutub Hilali, Poet and Literary Worker Editor, Banglalipi; Albert Khan, producer and online activist; Jamshed Shamim, actor; Juton Chandra Das, producer; poet Kamrul Hasan Badal; playwright Emran Chowdhury; poet and journalist Shuklal Das; writer Neelima Shamim; folk literature researcher Shamsul Arefin; poet Shahidul Alim; Rahman Roni; essayist Shoaib Naeem; writer and journalist Rajib Shil; journalist Ritik Nayan; organizer Zikru Habib Wahed; Rahul Das Nayan and actor Gazi Gofran.
As Bangladesh navigates its political crisis, the treatment of war veterans—symbols of national sacrifice—has become a bellwether for whether democratic norms and pluralism can be safeguarded, they say.
For many signatories, the immediate question is practical—protection and accountability—but the larger one is existential: if the dignity of a freedom fighter can be assailed without consequence, what does that mean for everyone else who speaks their mind?
