Freedom fighter Manik Pashari, a primary witness in a crimes against humanity trial involving the deceased Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, was interred at Chitolia village within Pirojpur Sadar upazila under heavy police protection early Sunday.

Law enforcement interred the remains on his residential grounds at approximately 2 am.

Previously, when the casket was transported to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Parishad grounds on Saturday afternoon, relatives reported facing demonstrations from local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, supporters, and certain area residents.

The remains were subsequently moved to the police lines with law enforcement support.

Following a ceremonial guard of honor at about 5 pm, officers from Pirojpur Sadar Police Station maintained strict security over the body.

Around 1 am, law enforcement transported the remains to his home, where the interment concluded an hour later alongside his spouse, offspring, and neighborhood inhabitants.

Abdur Razzak, assistant secretary of the Pirojpur district branch of Jamaat-e-Islami, stated that neither party leadership nor associated factions hindered the funeral.

He noted that Jamaat leaders do not partake in the politics of deceased bodies, adding that they offered complete cooperation to police to facilitate the burial.

Officer-in-Charge of Pirojpur Sadar Police Station Md Shariful Islam stated that the funeral was finalized under strict surveillance.

Extra law enforcement units have been stationed near the burial site to deter any disruptive incidents, he added.

Earlier, the sister of Manik Pashari, Mosammat Rina Akter, mentioned that the household brought her sibling's body to Pirojpur for burial but encountered obstacles when they were unable to proceed with the rites.

Manik Pashari resided in Ward No. 7 of Chitolia village situated in Shankarpasha Union.

Following the July-August 2024 mass uprising, Pashari reportedly stayed concealed across Jashore and Gopalganj districts.

Family sources stated that the freedom fighter passed away at approximately 10 am on Saturday at his daughter’s father-in-law's residence in the Tungipara area of Gopalganj.

He had been residing there following an extended period in hiding and had suffered from illness for roughly two months.

On February 8, 2013, International Crimes Tribunal-1 handed down a death sentence to Sayedee for crimes against humanity perpetrated during the 1971 Liberation War.

The ruling sparked violent clashes between police and Jamaat-e-Islami partisans, resulting in at least 35 fatalities and numerous injuries.

On September 17, 2014, the Supreme Court, acting on an appeal filed by Sayedee, reduced his capital punishment to life imprisonment.

The convicted war criminal passed away on August 14, 2023, while receiving medical care at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at the age of 83.

With Inputs from UNB