Once known globally as the “Gateway to Eastern India” during British rule and now widely recognized as the home of ilish, Chandpur carries a rich yet painful legacy of the 1971 Liberation War. At its center stands “Angikar,” the district’s principal Liberation War monument, symbolizing the unwavering pledge of freedom fighters. However, many other memorials across the district remain neglected, raising concerns over preserving history for future generations.
Established in 1989 on a lake in the heart of Chandpur town, “Angikar” is a 15-foot-high sculpture made of cement, stone, and iron. The monument features a freedom fighter holding a weapon, representing the commitment to achieve independence.
The sculpture was designed by renowned artist Syed Abdullah Khalid, best known as the creator of Aparajeyo Bangla. It was the first Liberation War memorial in Chandpur.
The initiative to construct the monument was taken by then Deputy Commissioner SM Shamsul Alam, and it was later inaugurated by former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Over time, Angikar has become the central memorial of the district.
Every year on Independence Day and Victory Day, people gather at the site to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War.
During the war, Pakistani occupation forces, along with local collaborators including Razakar and Al-Badr, carried out widespread atrocities across Chandpur. Many people were killed in mass executions, leaving behind numerous killing fields and mass graves.
However, decades after independence, many of these sites remain undocumented and unprotected. There is still no precise official count of mass graves in Chandpur, although the district administration has identified around 20 sites. Historical records, including a compilation by former deputy commissioner Priyotosh Saha, indicate at least 19 massacre sites.
Elderly freedom fighters have expressed frustration, saying the visible decline of these sites is gradually erasing memories of the war.
While Angikar remains a prominent landmark, several other Liberation War memorials in Chandpur are suffering from neglect.
Among them is the “Roktodhora” memorial located in the Boro Station area near the confluence of the Meghna and Dakatia rivers, marking a historic killing field.
Another significant structure is the “Kalam-Khalek-Sushil-Shankar Smritisoudha” on Truck Road, built in memory of four young men—Kalam, Khalek, Sushil, and Shankar—who were killed on April 3, 1971, while preparing explosives to resist Pakistani forces. They are remembered as the first martyrs of Chandpur. The memorial was constructed in 1997.
A separate monument listing the names of martyred freedom fighters stands at the deputy commissioner’s office in the district town.
Additional memorials across the district include the Nasirkot Shaheed Memorial in Hajiganj, Dipto Bangla at Matlab South’s JB Pilot High School field, Chandrakandi Smritisoudha at the Matlab North Upazila complex, and a memorial listing martyrs in front of the Faridganj Upazila complex.
Despite their historical importance, many of these structures are deteriorating due to a lack of proper maintenance.
Mass killings took place in numerous areas across Chandpur during the war, including Bagadi, Dasadi, Shilondia, and Chhoto Sundar in Chandpur Sadar; Ghridkalindia, Datra, and Char Bhagal in Faridganj; Laokra, Borkul, and Raghunathpur in Hajiganj; Ahmadnagar and Rayshree in Shahrasti; Rahimanagar, Kadla, and Sachar in Kachua; Kasimpur in Matlab South; and Rasulpur and Enayetnagar in Matlab North.
According to local residents, Pakistani forces and their collaborators carried out mass killings in these areas at different times in 1971.
Local residents and freedom fighters have urged authorities to take immediate steps to preserve these killing fields and ensure proper maintenance of all Liberation War memorials.
