Mass graves in Madaripur lie neglected

At least 15 mass graves where more than 1,000 martyrs of the Liberation War were buried in Madaripur are lying neglected, covered with jungle, making it tough to distinguish those from their surroundings.

Considering the historical importance of the mass graves, the government had assigned the Public Works Department to overlook a renovation and conservation project in 2013 for ten of 15 mass graves. 

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works also approved constructing memorials at the mass graves. After passing seven years of approval, construction of memorials and renovation of the mass graves are yet to begin.

According to locals, freedom fighters and relatives of martyrs, there are seven mass graves in Madaripur Sadar and eight graves in Rajoir. 

The largest mass grave in the district is situated inside the AR Hawladar Jute Mill, where the Pakistani military buried at least 700 freedom fighters and locals after killing them during the war, locals said.

This mass grave has been turned into a cattle grazing land. The Pakistani military locked up several hundred women in one of their torture cells in the jute mill and they discarded their mortal remains in the mass grave after brutally raping and killing them.

Another mass grave is situated near the pond of Sushen Hawladar of Sadar upazila’s Purbo Kolagachhia village; another beside Tarapod Shikari’s house in Sadar upazila Bahadurpur village.

A two-storied building, that now houses banks and other offices, has been built over the mass grave beside Shikdar Bari of Mithapukur village. 

There are seven more mass graves in Sadar upazila.

The mass grave in Mithapukur village has been turned into a bamboo orchard and vegetable garden. The mass grave at Sadar upazila’s Chauhaddi Hatkhola and another one beside Sarkari Shishu Sadan building have been turned into residential area.

At least 127 freedom fighters and villagers were buried in the eight mass graves in Rajoir. Between May and July 1971, the Pakistani troops attacked the villagers of Sendia, Chatian Bari, Ulota Bari, and Polita with the assistance of one of their neighbours, Mohiuddin Hawladar. They gathered the villagers at one place and killed at least 127 people by shooting indiscriminately.

Among other mass graves, one is beside Keshto Baidda’s house in Kamalapur village, one beside Rasu Gatiya’s house in Pakhula village; one beside Ganesh Pagoler Seba Ashram in Kadambari union; another one in Sendia village; a mass grave beside Siddik Matubbor’s house in Sendia village; one beside Shachin Barikdar’s house in Sendia village; one graveyard beside Dr Rasu Barikdar’s house in Sendia village; and a graveyard beside Purno Chandra Baidda’s house in Chatianbari village of Rajoir.

In April 2009, the local residents, freedom fighters, and relatives of these martyrs took the initiative and build a memorial in Sendia village of Rajoir, which was inaugurated by Father Marino Rigon, a recipient of “Friends of Liberation War Honour” and valiant freedom fighter.

Executive Engineer of Madaripur Public Works Department office, Md Kamrul Islam, told The Business Post, “We received an approval to construct memorials at four mass graveyards in the district. We are in communication with the district administration to acquire land for constructing these monuments, and they are inspecting these places. If they report us back soon, we will begin the construction work.”

The freedom fighters in the district lamented that they do not have an authorised list of freedom fighters even after 50 years of independence. 

SM Harun-ur-Rashid, former deputy commander of Madaripur Muktijoddha Sangsad blamed the indifference of both the freedom fighters and the authorities concerned.

“In 2014-16 when I was in office, I tried to make a proper list of freedom fighters in the district. But inconsistencies in available information held us back from finalising the list. I made a list of 43 freedom fighters and sent it to the ministry. And there is no response from them yet.”