Martyrs’ monument yet to be built at Saidpur

Although 46 years have passed after the Liberation War, a monument to the memory of the martyrs has not yet been built in Saidpur upazila town in the district. But every time December, the month of victory, arrives talks begin regarding its construction work. And there the matter rests for another year once the month passes.

This correspondent learnt from local people that after the partition of India in 1947, a large number of the non-Bangalees came to Saidpur town from India. So the scene of Saidpur town was different from those of towns.

Many of those belonging to the social elite, including the members of the then provincial parishad, martyr Jikrul Haque, galvanised the youths in fighting the Pakistani Army.During the Liberation War the Pakistani soldiers forced the Bangalees to work for the construction of the airport and tortured them mercilessly.

The town’s Bengalee population became besieged. Md Mahtab Beg, the former chairman of the Alokdihi union, under the Chinir Banda upazila, which is next to Saidpur upazila, tried to enter the Saidpur upazila town to rescue the besieged Bangalees with locally-made guns and various traditional weapons. But on the eve of entering the town, the Pakistani soldiers killed them. He was the first martyr among the freedom fighter of this area.

Besides the Pakistani soldiers, the Razakar militia they created, also killed a large number of people belonging to various professions and ages. It was learnt from various reliable sources that during the nine-month Liberation War around 4,000 people had been killed in Saidpur town.

It also came to be known that that some 448 people belonging to the Hindu and Maroyari community were killed on July 13, 1971 in Saidpur town. The Pakistani soldiers had assured them of sending them to India and put on a special train. They were taken to a place called Golahaat, about one kilometre away from Saidpur railway station, and shot dead.

After Independence, it was decided to build a memorial to the martyrs and make the new generation aware of the valiant sacrifices made during the Liberation War.

The site of the monument was changed several times. Finally, work began at Golahaat. The work began with financial assistance from the MP of Nilphamari constituency-4, Md Shaokot Chowdhury, and the cooperation of the local people.

By now, about Tk 50,00,000 have already been spent for land filling and laying the infrastructure. The monument was estimated to cost Tk 1cr. But the contraction work has currently come to a halt due to want of money.  As the work stopped, the area became unprotected and was later brought under the Saidpur municipality, which built a boundary wall to protect the site and prevent encroachment.

The general secretary of the monument implementation committee Md Sakoat Hossain, who is the son of a martyr and principal in-charge of the Saidpur College, told this correspondent that construction work was delayed as the promised money of the local MP had not been sanctioned in time.

But he claimed 60 per cent of the work had already been completed and hoped the construction would be over soon.

 

Martyrs monument yet to be built at Saidpur

Although 46 years have passed after the Liberation War, a monument to the memory of the martyrs has not yet been built in Saidpur upazila town in the district. But every time December, the month of victory, arrives talks begin regarding its construction work. And there the matter rests for another year once the month passes. This correspondent learnt from local people that after the partition of India in 1947, a large number of the non-Bangalees came to Saidpur town from India. So the scene of Saidpur town was different from those of towns. Many of those belonging to the social elite, including the members of the then provincial parishad, martyr Jikrul Haque, galvanised the youths in fighting the Pakistani Army.During the Liberation War the Pakistani soldiers forced the Bangalees to work for the construction of the airport and tortured them mercilessly. The towns Bengalee population became besieged. Md Mahtab Beg, the former chairman of the Alokdihi union, under the Chinir Banda upazila, which is next to Saidpur upazila, tried to enter the Saidpur upazila town to rescue the besieged Bangalees with locally-made guns and various traditional weapons. But on the eve of entering the town, the Pakistani soldiers killed them. He was the first martyr among the freedom fighter of this area. Besides the Pakistani soldiers, the Razakar militia they created, also killed a large number of people belonging to various professions and ages. It was learnt from various reliable sources that during the nine-month Liberation War around 4,000 people had been killed in Saidpur town. It also came to be known that that some 448 people belonging to the Hindu and Maroyari community were killed on July 13, 1971 in Saidpur town. The Pakistani soldiers had assured them of sending them to India and put on a special train. They were taken to a place called Golahaat, about one kilometre away from Saidpur railway station, and shot dead. After Independence, it was decided to build a memorial to the martyrs and make the new generation aware of the valiant sacrifices made during the Liberation War. The site of the monument was changed several times. Finally, work began at Golahaat. The work began with financial assistance from the MP of Nilphamari constituency-4, Md Shaokot Chowdhury, and the cooperation of the local people. By now, about Tk 50,00,000 have already been spent for land filling and laying the infrastructure. The monument was estimated to cost Tk 1cr. But the contraction work has currently come to a halt due to want of money. As the work stopped, the area became unprotected and was later brought under the Saidpur municipality, which built a boundary wall to protect the site and prevent encroachment. The general secretary of the monument implementation committee Md Sakoat Hossain, who is the son of a martyr and principal in-charge of the Saidpur College, told this correspondent that construction work was delayed as the promised money of the local MP had not been sanctioned in time. But he claimed 60 per cent of the work had already been completed and hoped the construction would be over soon.