Residents of Khulna demand the restoration of the district’s first liberation war camp, Hamida Manzil, as well as the construction of a memorial complex and library to preserve its history in Rupsha upazila.
The two-storey Hamida Manzil was demolished a few years ago allegedly by some local influential people and the land was illegally sold. Locals demand the illegal landgrabbers be evicted and the construction of a memorial complex to preserve the history of the liberation war.
Meanwhile, the graves of two freedom fighters, Md Habibur Rahman Khan and Ansar member Muslim Uddin Howladar in Debipur of the upazila are in a dilapidated state. Due to the relocation of Debipur Junior Girls High School, the graves by the old buildings were not preserved.
During a visit to Rupsha, this correspondent found that the historical Hamida Manzil, Khulna’s first liberation war camp, was nowhere to be seen. Only a small signboard with its name and description was left behind by its builder Muslim Uddin Sheikh’s mother Asiya Khatun’s grave.
The surrounding lands were sold as plots. Some of the plots were leased to people who build houses to live.
According to Muslim Uddin Sheikh’s son Adv Ed SM Mostafizur Rahman, the property of Hamida Manzil was acquired by the railway authority in 1967. After the liberation war, railway workers started to live on the property with their families.
When the demolition of the property was first brought up the then Members of Parliament Molla Jalal Uddin and Nazrul Islam Manju raised a demand in Jatiya Sangsad for the preservation of Hamida Manzil.
“In 2011 however, some influential people in connection with the railway authority demolished the building. An illegal settlement has been built on about an acre of land there. We contacted several departments in hopes of preserving the building and the restoration of the graves of two freedom fighters but all in vain,” Mostafizur Rahman said.
He added that the locals demand the preservation of the graves of two heroes of Debipur along with the establishment of a museum and a library where Hamiza Manzil used to be.
Local freedom fighter Md Moin Uddin Chowdhury said, “We could not protest because the local representatives did not come forward when the building was demolished. I hope they will come forward now to preserve the memories of the liberation war and construct a monument in memoriam.”
Sheikh Zahidul Islam Ravi, an assistant teacher at Debipur Junior Girls High School, said the school was relocated on September 19, 2016, due to the old buildings becoming dilapidated.
“Two old buildings were abandoned so were the two graves of the freedom fighters in the school boundary. A few years ago, Ansar and VDP took the initiative to preserve the two graves. That initiative was not successful,” he said.
Khulna District Freedom Fighters Unit Command President Sardar Mahabubar Rahman said, “Nobody wishes for the memory of the liberation war to disappear. A memorial should be built to preserve the glorious history of this country.”
In regard to Hamida Manzil, Rupsa Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kohinur Jahan said, “I was not aware of the matter. Proper measures will be taken after field inspection.”
She added that if the family members of the freedom fighters apply, preservation measures will be taken for the graves.
History of Hamida Manzil and Debipur Girls’ School
According to local sources, after the proclamation of independence, a committee was formed in Khulna under the chairmanship of Sheikh Kamruzzaman Tuku. He along with other youths set up a camp at Bagmara village’s Hamida Manzil with their looted weapons from where they planned their operations to fight the Pakistani Army.
Another camp was set up at a later date in the then-Debipur Junior Girls School building. About 250 freedom fighters, including EPR, Police and Ansar members stayed at the camp during the liberation war.
On the advice of the 9th Sector Commander Major MA Jalil Kamruzzaman Tuku decided to take control of the radio station near Gallamari on April 4. However, due to a mishap while crossing the Rupsha River, the group of freedom fighters had to retreat to Debipur school.
During the battle, Captain Subedar Major Sheikh Zainul Abedin, Habibur Rahman Khan and Ansar member Moslem Uddin Howladar were martyred.
Habibur Rahman Khan and Moslem Uddin Howladar’s burial was done in the area behind the school. The burial of the war captain took place at City College Hostel on Sher-e-Bangla Road in the city.
According to local resident Rabin Kumar Pal, the freedom fighters stayed at Debipur Junior Girls School for three-four days and later left for India for proper training.
SM Harunur Rashid, another local, said that freedom fighters first took shelter in the railway station master’s room. Later, the camp was set up in Hamida Manzil, an empty building acquired by the railways.
