Chuknagar Genocide Day today

Chuknagar Genocide Day, country’s largest and worst killings of human beings will be observed at Chuknagar under Dumuria upazila of Khulna district today in a befitting manner.

Marking the day, Chuknagar Smrity Rakkha Parisad has chalked out different programmes including placing of a wreath at the Chuknagar Srityshoudha, a memorial built-in memory of Chuknagar massacres victims, a mourning procession, hundreds of candlelight vigil and discussion.

Besides, Amra Ekattor, a platform of the 1971 generation, and Jashore Udichi jointly have chalked out different programmes to mark the day. The programme includes paying tributes at the memorial of Chuknagar Monument around 1100am and a cultural programme in the memory of 1971martyred in the evening.

Leaders of International Crimes Trial Tribunal, Muktijuddha Museum, Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, 1971-Ganohattya, Nirjaton Archive and Museum, Uttarbanga Museum, Dhaka University and Genocide Studies and Jashore Udichi will be present at the progrmme.

The eventual victory of December 16, 1971 was the outcome of nine months of sustained successful armed resistance of the Bengali nation but the period was marked by a series of genocides and the Chuknagar Massacre is believed to be the worst one as it witnessed the slaying of at least 10,000 people in hours.

The victims, mostly minority Hindus, were fleeing their homes to take makeshift refuge in neighbouring India while the carnage took place at the small frontier business town of Chuknagar at Dumuria of Khulna as they believed it to be a safe passage.

“There were bodies over bodies, numerous bodies... I did not get any room to step out evading the blood-stained bodies,” ABM Shafiqul Islam, former principal of Chuknagar College, a witness to the massacre, said as he recalled the memories in a choked voice while tears rolled down his cheeks.

Professor Muntasir Mamoon in his research on the massacre said people started to gather at Chuknagar in mid-April to cross the border in groups. By 15th May big crowds from the nearby localities and districts flocked to Chuknagar as the rumour of approaching Paki troops spread like fire. According to a conservative account, around ten thousand people were in Chuknagar waiting to cross the border, the scene of the mass killing on May 20 of 1971.

“Around 10am two trucks carrying Paki troops arrived at Kautala (then known as Patkhola). The Pakis were not many in number, most possibly a platoon or so. As soon as the Paki trucks stopped, the Pakis alighted from the truck carrying light machine guns (LMGs) and semi-automatic rifles and opened fire on the public.