Genocide committed on April 17 in Badarganj

The fearful genocide of 1,200 innocent Bangalees in Badarganj upazila here on April 17 in 1971 still reminds the horrific atrocities committed against humanity on this soil during the War of Liberation, reports BSS.
The crimes were committed simultaneously when the provisional government of Bangladesh was taking oath at Baiddonathtola in present Meherpur district to give the history of Independence and War of Liberation a decisive dimension.
“The barbaric genocide was committed in Badarganj when the National Flag with Map of Bangladesh was hoisted on that day at Baiddonathtola in presence of the freedom fighters (FFs) and journalists,” said District Muktijoddha Commander Mosaddek Hossain Bablu.
According to the FFs and elderly people, thousands of the Pakistani occupation forces with local war criminals, collaborators, razakars, al-badars and al-shams came to Badarganj from Parbotipur by a train in the morning on April 17 in 1971.
They immediately gheraoed Bakshiganj, Boiragipara, Dakshin Buzruk, Buzruk Hajipur, Khalisha Hajipur, Ghatabeel, Ramkrishnapur, Bansbari, Baniapara, Khoddabagbar, Msandoba, Taxerhat, Kishamat Ghatabeel, Konapara, Mandalpara, Goydapara, Kuthirpara, Khiarpara, Telipara, Bozarapara, Kamarpara, Sarkerpara, Khijirerpara, Maddyapara, Balapara, Bittipara, Bagbar, Sarderpara and other adjoining villages.
The war criminals started indiscriminate killing of the Bangalee men, women, and children irrespective of caste, creed and religion, set fire and looted properties, raped, violated and tortured hundreds of the daughters till the noon.
Later, they caught some 1,200 innocent Bangalees of all ages, took them to nearby Padmapukur and Jharuarbeel in the afternoon, and opened brass fire killing them on the spot defeating all atrocities committed against the humanity in the past world history.
Talking to BSS, the local elderly people said the whole area turned into mass slaughtering ground when fresh bloods of the innocent Independence-seeker Bangalees flowed turning the grasses and water there into red.
The dead bodies were scattered all-around and the killers had been charging bayonets to the injured Bangalees to ensure their deaths amid cracking sounds of wounds when the whole nature became silent observing the unthinkable atrocities, they said.
On charges of committing the heinous genocide at Padmapukur and Jharuarbeel areas along and other war crimes, the International War Crimes Tribunal has sentenced Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami ATM Azharul Islam to            death.
After conducting researches, names of about 400 of the martyrs of Jharuarbeel and Padmapukur Baddhyabhumi have been collected and included in the book ‘History of Rangpur District’ published by Rangpur district administration in 2000.
District Muktijoddha Commander Mosaddek Hossain Bablu narrated the heinous atrocities committed there by the Pakistani occupation forces with local collaborators and demanded completion of the trial and execution of all war criminals.
Valiant FFs Majibar Rahman Master, Abdus Sattar (JASOD leader), Professor Anwarul Islam, Professor Messer Uddin and Comrade Altaf Hossain (CPB leader) also described the horrendous crimes committed there against the humanity on that day.
Parbotipur was strongholds of the occupation forces, anti-liberation forces and non-Bengali Beharis then and they had been committing frequent genocides led by the local war criminals in the region starting from there in 1971.
They said the Pakistani occupation forces with their local collaborators razakars, al-badars, al- shams and non-Bengali Beharis committed one of the biggest genocides in the world history at Jharuarbeel-Padmapukur in Badarganj upazila on that day.
The Liberation War Affairs Ministry through the Local Government Division has constructed ‘Swadhinota Smritistambha’ at Jharuarbeel- Padmapukur Baddhyabhumi to make the martyrs immortal and pay due respect to them.

The Jharuarbeel-Padmapukur Baddhyabhumi Sangrakkhan Committee, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Ghatabeel Shaheed Smriti Girls’ High School and different organisations observe the Jharuarbeel and Padmapukur Genocide Day on April 17 every year.

Genocide committed on April 17 in Badarganj

The fearful genocide of 1,200 innocent Bangalees in Badarganj upazila here on April 17 in 1971 still reminds the horrific atrocities committed against humanity on this soil during the War of Liberation, reports BSS. The crimes were committed simultaneously when the provisional government of Bangladesh was taking oath at Baiddonathtola in present Meherpur district to give the history of Independence and War of Liberation a decisive dimension. The barbaric genocide was committed in Badarganj when the National Flag with Map of Bangladesh was hoisted on that day at Baiddonathtola in presence of the freedom fighters (FFs) and journalists, said District Muktijoddha Commander Mosaddek Hossain Bablu. According to the FFs and elderly people, thousands of the Pakistani occupation forces with local war criminals, collaborators, razakars, al-badars and al-shams came to Badarganj from Parbotipur by a train in the morning on April 17 in 1971. They immediately gheraoed Bakshiganj, Boiragipara, Dakshin Buzruk, Buzruk Hajipur, Khalisha Hajipur, Ghatabeel, Ramkrishnapur, Bansbari, Baniapara, Khoddabagbar, Msandoba, Taxerhat, Kishamat Ghatabeel, Konapara, Mandalpara, Goydapara, Kuthirpara, Khiarpara, Telipara, Bozarapara, Kamarpara, Sarkerpara, Khijirerpara, Maddyapara, Balapara, Bittipara, Bagbar, Sarderpara and other adjoining villages. The war criminals started indiscriminate killing of the Bangalee men, women, and children irrespective of caste, creed and religion, set fire and looted properties, raped, violated and tortured hundreds of the daughters till the noon. Later, they caught some 1,200 innocent Bangalees of all ages, took them to nearby Padmapukur and Jharuarbeel in the afternoon, and opened brass fire killing them on the spot defeating all atrocities committed against the humanity in the past world history. Talking to BSS, the local elderly people said the whole area turned into mass slaughtering ground when fresh bloods of the innocent Independence-seeker Bangalees flowed turning the grasses and water there into red. The dead bodies were scattered all-around and the killers had been charging bayonets to the injured Bangalees to ensure their deaths amid cracking sounds of wounds when the whole nature became silent observing the unthinkable atrocities, they said. On charges of committing the heinous genocide at Padmapukur and Jharuarbeel areas along and other war crimes, the International War Crimes Tribunal has sentenced Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami ATM Azharul Islam to death. After conducting researches, names of about 400 of the martyrs of Jharuarbeel and Padmapukur Baddhyabhumi have been collected and included in the book History of Rangpur District published by Rangpur district administration in 2000. District Muktijoddha Commander Mosaddek Hossain Bablu narrated the heinous atrocities committed there by the Pakistani occupation forces with local collaborators and demanded completion of the trial and execution of all war criminals. Valiant FFs Majibar Rahman Master, Abdus Sattar (JASOD leader), Professor Anwarul Islam, Professor Messer Uddin and Comrade Altaf Hossain (CPB leader) also described the horrendous crimes committed there against the humanity on that day. Parbotipur was strongholds of the occupation forces, anti-liberation forces and non-Bengali Beharis then and they had been committing frequent genocides led by the local war criminals in the region starting from there in 1971. They said the Pakistani occupation forces with their local collaborators razakars, al-badars, al- shams and non-Bengali Beharis committed one of the biggest genocides in the world history at Jharuarbeel-Padmapukur in Badarganj upazila on that day. The Liberation War Affairs Ministry through the Local Government Division has constructed Swadhinota Smritistambha at Jharuarbeel- Padmapukur Baddhyabhumi to make the martyrs immortal and pay due respect to them. The Jharuarbeel-Padmapukur Baddhyabhumi Sangrakkhan Committee, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Ghatabeel Shaheed Smriti Girls High School and different organisations observe the Jharuarbeel and Padmapukur Genocide Day on April 17 every year.