RANGPUR, Nov 12, 2018 (BSS) – The horrific genocide of 697 innocent
Bangalees at Hatia union in Kurigram during the holy month of Ramadan on
November 13, 1971 still testifies the barbaric crimes committed against the
humanity.
The Pakistani occupation forces with their local collaborators, razakars,
al-badars and al-shams killed 697 innocent men, women, children and girls of
seven villages there at dawn on the day (23rd of Ramadan).
The seven villages are Anontapur, Ramkhana, Noyadara, Bagua, Nilkanathya,
Dagarkuthi and Hatia located by the side of the Brahmaputra in the union
under Ulipur upazila.
Talking to BSS, freedom fighters as well as relatives of these martyrs
narrated the barbaric genocide when the killers also burnt many dead bodies
and houses, violated adolescents, girls and women.
Kurigram district unit Commander of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Sirajul
Islam Tuku, freedom fighters Harun Ar Rashid Lal and Aminul Islam Manju
Mandal narrated the horrendous Hatia genocide.
Tuku said the occupation forces on information from their local
collaborators conducted the massacre on that dawn at Hatia union, which was a
safe place for freedom fighters during the War of Liberation.
The occupation army surrounded the seven villages as the Muslims were
preparing to offer Fajr prayers after taking ‘Sehri’. . Conducting door to
door combing operations, the occupation forces caught 697 innocent Bangalees,
set fire to their houses, looted properties and violated many women.
Freedom fighter Aminul Islam Manju Mandal said the occupation forces took
the Bangalees at village Dagar Kuthi on the bank of Brahmaputra river and
opened fire on them killing and injuring them just before the ‘Fajr’ prayers.
“The barbaric genocide committed by the occupation forces there crossed all
previous record of atrocities carried out against humanity in the history,”
Mandal said.
Freedom fighter Mizanur Rahman said local ‘Peace Committee’ Chairman Babar
Ali and other collaborators like Shahjahan, Syed Maulana, Shamsher Ali
assisted the occupation army in conducting the Hatia massacre.
“Survivors of Hatia massacre and relatives of the martyrs are still afraid
of the surviving local collaborators and razakars who killed their loved ones
in 1971,” he said and demanded to bring them under trial to ensure exemplary
punishments.
Bullet-injured Babar Ali, 80, of the Hatia massacre said, “My mother kept
me covered with her clothes in her lap. But, the aggressor forces kicked my
mother and shot at me.”
“After taking treatments for a long time, I survived. But, I still bear
the pain of bullet in my body,” Ali told BSS. He demanded trial of the war
criminals involved with Hatia massacre.
Another survivor Jahir Uddin, 78, said bodies were lying all-around and the
killers charged bayonets to the injured to ensure their deaths amid screaming
sound of the wounded people.
Hatia union Chairman Abul Hossain said, “As soon as the common people came
out at the cracking sounds of fire from automatic machineguns, all of them
were caught instantly by the standing occupation forces.
“The occupation forces opened fire at the innocent Bangalees at village
Dagarkuthi on the Brahmaputra bank,” he said.
“On that dawn, soil of the seven villages was covered with blood. Around
300 women were widowed,” Hossain said.
A memorial monument has been constructed at Anontapur Bazar near Hatia
union parishad where local people will gather and place wreaths tomorrow.
They will also participate in milad mahfil and discussion to recall the
memories of the Hatia massacre martyrs.