RAJSHAHI, Aug 27, 2020 (BSS)- Rajshahi International Tennis Complex (RITC) has now been named after Advocate Abdus Salam, a gallant freedom fighter and one of the close companions of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman .
The unanimous decision to name the RITC was taken in its executive committee meeting this noon amidst mass demands from the valiant freedom fighters and distinguished citizens .
Earlier, the plaque of the TC, named after Zafar Imam had been removed in the wake of strong protest by the valiant freedom fighters for long .
Simultaneously, the signboard, inscribed with the name of Zafar Imam from the main gate of the complex has also been taken out .
“We had been demanding removal of the rajaker’s (collaborators) name from the RITC and we now heave a sigh of relief with removal of the name of that person.
Earlier, a three-member inquiry committee formed by Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rajshahi had recommended removal of the name of rajakar Zafar Imam from RITC.
The committee was formed by the DC on January 30, 2020 as Abu Aslam, Additional District Magistrate as its Convener and Ifte Khair Alam, Additional Superintendent of Police and Hasina Momtaz, Deputy Director ,Social Service Department as members.
The inquiry committee report was made public and handed over by the then DC Hamidul Huq to the freedom fighters on July 2 last during a meeting at the Freedom Fighters Complex.
Subsequently, a copy of the inquiry report was also sent to the Divisional Commissioner who is also the Chief Advisors of the Tennis Complex and its Committee.
Earlier, 98 freedom fighters lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner on January 19 demanding immediate removal of Rajakar Zafar Imam’s name from RITC.
They pointed out that Zafar Imam collaborated with Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War in 1971 and took part in genocide .
After investigation, , the inquiry committee found that following the death of Zafar Imam on May 20, 2004, the Executive Committee of RITC during the BNP-Jamaat alliance government named RITC after his name on June 23, 2004.
The probe committee in the inquiry, took testimonies of 21 freedom fighters about war crimes of Zafar Imam in 1971.
The inquiry committee revealed that complaints raised by the freedom fighters were proved beyond doubt and Zafara Imam under his leadership formed National Students Front (NSF) in Rajshahi region .
His cadres created a reign of terror and as per his list the Pakistani occupation forces killed freedom fighters, intellectuals and innocent people in Rajshahi region in 1971 .