<i> Days in the life of a freedom fighter</i>

Freedom fighter Abdur Razzak, now 68, pulls rickshaw-van for a living. Photo: STAR

Valiant freedom fighter Abdul Razzak, now 68, finds it hard to get both ends meet with his scanty income as a rickshaw-van puller.
He with his wife lives in a shabby hut on a land beside Kaliganj-Kotchandpur road at Kashipur village under Kaliganj municipality in Jhenidah district.
Abdur Razzak, then serving East Bengal Regiment, joined the Liberation War in 1971, and participated in first frontal fight with Pakistani occupation forces at Chasra-Palbari in Jessore, said the freedom fighter.
He along with other freedom fighters moved to Petrapol in India. Later they went to Agartala and took part in several fights.
He fought under the command of Moinul Haq Chowdhury led by Major Hafiz.
"During a fight with the Pakistani forces in Mymensingh, our fellow Captain Salauddin and Motiar Rahman of Boro Bhatke village in Jessore borrowed martyrdom. At the time I received bullet injuries to my left leg and right hand. I was taken to a hospital in Guwahati in India," Razzak narrated his experience to this correspondent.
"I have not got any reward for my sacrifice for the country. Now I live on a roadside land and maintain my family by pulling van," said Razzak in tears.
"My freedom fighter husband risked his life to free this country. But we live in a dilapidated hut and often pass days without meal," said his wife Rizia Khatun who earns a little by sewing kantha for others.
They have two sons and two daughters. The two daughters are living with their husbands while the two sons are too heartless to look after their elderly parents, said Razzak.
Razzak and his wife have to borrow added sufferings when they become sick or cannot work for any reason, said their neighbour Khodeza Khatun.
Contacted, Kaliganj upazila unit Muktijoddha Sangsad commander Sekendar Ali said, "We will try to manage a plot of land for Abdur Razzak. We will make recommendations to the upazila chairman and the nirbahi officer in this regard."