Family sources said Gazi Golam Dastagir Bir Pratik was picked up from his residence by a group of armed men identifying themselves as members of the joint forces early Friday.

In a joint statement, the freedom fighters expressed concern as five days had gone by without any news of his whereabouts.

They said since the government did not deny media reports that he was detained they thought the government would notify his family members about his whereabouts and justice would take its course.

In their statement, the freedom fighters urged the government and the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to locate Dastagir and relieve his family members, well-wishers and fellow freedom fighters of anxiety.

Advocate Sultana Kamal, Major (retd) Aktar Ahmed Bir Pratik, Shahidullah Khan, Nasir Uddin Yusuf, Ali Ahmed Ziaudddin Bir Pratik, Habibul Alam Bir Pratik, Fateh Ali Chowdhury, Major (retd) Majur Ahmed Bir Pratik, Raisul Islam Asad, Sayeda Kamal, Minu Haq, Khuku Ahmed, Dr Nayla Khan, Reshma Amin, Asma Nisar and Mini Kadir were signatories to the statement.

Dastagir was a valiant fighter of the famous Crack Platoon that was in charge of carrying out guerrilla operations in Dhaka during the Liberation War. The government rewarded him for his gallantry role in the Liberation War.