Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Thursday voiced displeasure as Language Movement hero Abdul Matin was not given the state honour.
“He (Bhasha Matin) is one of the greatest sons of the soil. The nation had expected, the state would show him due honour. But we don’t know why he was not given the state honour,” wondered BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He was talking to reporters after paying the last respect to Matin at the central Shaheed Minar in the city at noon.
People from all walks of life flocked to Central Shaheed Minar to pay their last respects to Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) made the arrangement with the help of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote.
Leaders of different political parties, including Awami League and BNP, and different socio-cultural organisations paid their homage to one of the organisers of the 1952 Language Movement.
Fakhrul said the government should have given him state honour for his outstanding contributions to the nation. “Abdul Matin is a legendary leader who had led the nation to the Language Movement… He also devoted himself to building the country and worked for the betterment of people throughout his life,” the BNP spokesman added.
Mentioning that people will ever remember his contributions, he said. “Abdul Matin never deviated from his ideal and philosophy. So, it was the responsibility of the state to show the great leader the due honour.”
BNP standing committee members MK Anwar, Mirza Abbas, Hannan Shah, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Osman Farroque and leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies were also present.
Abdul Matin passed away at a city hospital on Wednesday morning at the age of 88.
Born on December 3, 1926, Abdul Matin was one of the leading student leaders and organisers of the Language Movement in 1952 that earned him the title of ‘Bhasha Matin’.
Source: Prothom Alo
