Dinajpur recalls mine blast tragedy

Today is the 6th January. The people of Dinajpur recall the tragic death of hundreds of freedom fighters and common people on this day in 1972 in mine explosions inside a freedom fighters transit camp in Dinajpur town. Some 700 people might have been killed in the incident, Dinajpur Muktijodhdha Sangshad sources said.
Marking the incident, the 6th January Smriti Parishad of Dinajpur has built a monument at their own initiative at the Maharaja Girizanath High school ground with inscription of the names of 158 martyred freedom fighters. Every year, people place wreaths and hold milad mahfil to commemorate those killed in the tragic incident.After final victory on December 16, a transit camp was set up at the Maharaja Girizanath High School ground for a get-together of the freedom fighters of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Joypurhat districts.
The freedom fighters under the supervision of Captain Shaharier, the in-charge of the transit camp, started a search for hidden explosives and ammunition, left by surrendered Pakistani soldiers.
They found explosives, including mines, anti-tank mines, jumping mines and mortars, piled up at the school ground.
On the evening of January 6, 1972, as the freedom fighters were arranging the explosives a landmine accidentally went off triggering series of blasts. In few minutes the place turned into piles of human limbs.The people from neighboring areas rushed to the spot and put all their efforts to save the survivors, but most of them could not be saved due to inadequate treatment facilities in the post-war situation, said Shafiqul Haque Chutu, a witness to the incident, who took part in the rescue operation.
Siddique Gaznabi, Commander of Dinajpur District Muktijoddha Sangsad, said the villagers collected about four tonnes of human bodies and buried them at Chehelgazi, said another who took part in the rescue operation. Over a hundred freedom fighters were buried at Chehelgazi Mazaar in Dinajpur sadar upazila in state honour while bodies of many others were taken away by their family members. The 6th January Smriti Parishad has taken a comprehensives programme to observe the day on Wednesday. The programme includes  placing of wreaths at the monument and Chehelgazi Mazar, human chain for inclusion of the tragic incident in textbooks, discussion meeting, cultural programme and milad mahfil.

Dinajpur recalls mine blast tragedy

Today is the 6th January. The people of Dinajpur recall the tragic death of hundreds of freedom fighters and common people on this day in 1972 in mine explosions inside a freedom fighters transit camp in Dinajpur town. Some 700 people might have been killed in the incident, Dinajpur Muktijodhdha Sangshad sources said. Marking the incident, the 6th January Smriti Parishad of Dinajpur has built a monument at their own initiative at the Maharaja Girizanath High school ground with inscription of the names of 158 martyred freedom fighters. Every year, people place wreaths and hold milad mahfil to commemorate those killed in the tragic incident.After final victory on December 16, a transit camp was set up at the Maharaja Girizanath High School ground for a get-together of the freedom fighters of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Joypurhat districts. The freedom fighters under the supervision of Captain Shaharier, the in-charge of the transit camp, started a search for hidden explosives and ammunition, left by surrendered Pakistani soldiers. They found explosives, including mines, anti-tank mines, jumping mines and mortars, piled up at the school ground. On the evening of January 6, 1972, as the freedom fighters were arranging the explosives a landmine accidentally went off triggering series of blasts. In few minutes the place turned into piles of human limbs.The people from neighboring areas rushed to the spot and put all their efforts to save the survivors, but most of them could not be saved due to inadequate treatment facilities in the post-war situation, said Shafiqul Haque Chutu, a witness to the incident, who took part in the rescue operation. Siddique Gaznabi, Commander of Dinajpur District Muktijoddha Sangsad, said the villagers collected about four tonnes of human bodies and buried them at Chehelgazi, said another who took part in the rescue operation. Over a hundred freedom fighters were buried at Chehelgazi Mazaar in Dinajpur sadar upazila in state honour while bodies of many others were taken away by their family members. The 6th January Smriti Parishad has taken a comprehensives programme to observe the day on Wednesday. The programme includes placing of wreaths at the monument and Chehelgazi Mazar, human chain for inclusion of the tragic incident in textbooks, discussion meeting, cultural programme and milad mahfil.