Freedom Fighters’ Families Announce Protest Program in Front of Secretariat

Families of freedom fighters and slum dwellers will hold a symbolic hunger strike in front of the Secretariat gate at 12 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025, demanding the implementation of two rehabilitation projects: Kalamiltala Bazar in Bijoy Sarani and Mirpur Bhashantek slum. The announcement was made on Sunday, August 10, 2025, during an ongoing sit-in program in front of the National Press Club under the banner of “We Are Slum Rehabilitation and Martyrs’ Families Compensation Recovery Struggle Council.”

Md. Abdul Kader, son of martyred freedom fighter Abdul Kader, announced the hunger strike. The event was attended by slum dwellers and people from various professions. Abdur Rahim, a representative, stated that despite being families of martyred freedom fighters, they have been victims of state corruption, looting, terrorism, and chaos. He highlighted two key issues: the Kalamiltala Bazar in Bijoy Sarani, which has been forcibly occupied by individuals in collusion with former mayor Atiqul Islam, the Dhaka North City Corporation administrator, and the Local Government Ministry; and the Mirpur Bhashantek slum rehabilitation project, illegally occupied by former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Colonel (Retd.) Faruk Khan, and others in collaboration with the Land Ministry.

Rahim noted that despite years of legal efforts and appeals, no resolution has been achieved. Even after the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, 2024, the issues remain unresolved. He called for the intervention of the chief adviser and relevant authorities to address their grievances. Rahim further stated that repeated requests to the previous government for solutions to the Kalamiltala Bazar and Mirpur Bhashantek projects were ignored. Following the fall of the Hasina government, the interim government’s chief adviser, in response to their appeal, directed the Local Government Ministry, Freedom Fighters’ Affairs Ministry, Land Ministry, Public Security Division, Home Ministry, and the Inspector General of Police in September 2024 to take appropriate action. In December 2024, the Land Ministry formed a seven-member committee with instructions to submit a report within three months. However, seven months later, no progress has been made, no report has been submitted, and the fate of the slum dwellers remains unchanged. Rahim emphasized, “With no other option left, we are compelled to take to the streets. We will continue our movement until our demands are met, and if necessary, we will sacrifice our lives but will not retreat from the streets.”