Now their marks will remain forever in their beloved map

The map of Bangladesh with handprints of living freedom fighters from Bagerhat’s Kachua upazila. Photo: Partha Chakrabortty

The map of independent Bangladesh found its place on the face of the globe after the 1971 War of Independence was won by the country's sons of the soil -- the freedom fighters.

Now, when the nation is on the eve of celebrating the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, the living freedom fighters of Kachua upazila got the opportunity to preserve their handprints on the map of Bangladesh, for which they had risked their lives in battlefields.

A map of Bangladesh, imprinted with their handprints in different colours, now adorns a wall in the office of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sujit Debnath.

The freedom fighters as well as other residents of the upazila praised the upazila administration, especially the UNO, Sujit Debnath, for taking the exemplary initiative of honouring the war veterans.

Monnu Hazra, aged 68, former commander of the freedom fighters in Kachua, said, "There will be a day when we will be no more. But our handprints on the map of our beloved motherland will remain."

The handprints on the map will be there to state the historic fact that the freedom fighters fought for the country under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he also said. 

Sikder Habibur Rahaman, now 67, former deputy commander of freedom fighters in the upazila, said, "We are glad that someone, 50 years after the independence, has taken the step to preserve our memory."

He especially thanked UNO Sujit for implementing the commendable initiative and for designating several seats for freedom fighters in the latter's office. 

"We took handprints of the freedom fighters, including their former commanders and deputy commanders, in Kachua upazila to pay respect to our freedom fighters on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu," said Sujit.

"We will make another map of this kind for the 'Freedom fighters' Complex'... I also designated several chairs in my office for the freedom fighters," he said with pride.