Today, April 26, is the Koroi-Kadipur mass-killing day in Joypurhat. On this day in 1971, 371 innocent Hindu villagers of Koroi and Kadipur villages were massacred by the invading Pakistani army with the help of local anti-liberation forces. Their homes were homes were looted and burnt down later.
A memorial was built on the mass grave of Koroi-Kadipur to remember the martyrs, but even after 44 years of independence none of the local anti-liberation supportes involved in the mass-murder have been tried yet. Like every year, Srijoni – a local welfare organisation – took on various programmes to commemorate the day.
Local anti-liberation forces targeted the Hindu majority villages Koroi and Kadipur. For the planning of the operation, on the night of April 25, 1971, a meeting was held in the adjacent Hanail-Bombu village at the house of now-deceased Moulana Moslem Uddin. On April 26, a Monday, when the Pakistani army officers were having breakfast at Moslem Uddin’s place, the anti-liberation supporters from nearby villages surrounded the Koroi-Kadipur villages. Pakistani troops fired empty shots to scare the Hindu villagers. Moulana Moslem Uddin then gave assurance that they will not be killed and asked them to gather at the field beside the local Dome pond.
Then six members of the Pakistani army stood them in lines and shot them dead. Although some were still alive, they were buried along with those killed in a mass grave. A total of 366 families from the two villages fell victim to the Pakistani invaders. Those who were alive left everything behind to save themselves. All their belongings were taken over by the local anti-liberation supporters.
Dasrat Kumar, 65, who lost a family member that day, said: “I would have gotten some peace of mind if I could see those who killed my loved ones brought to justice.”
Sudha Rani, 60+, still cannot get over the loss of her husband Subal Chandra to the massacre. “I lost consciousness when I saw them shooting my husband. After that day, I am just surviving with my three children somehow,” she said.
Eyewitness of the mass-killing Jogen Pal expressed great resentment when asked about the incident. He said: “It is no use talking about that day. In 2013, miscreants exploded crude bombs at the memorial built for the deceased. Are you still going to ask how we are?”
Wounded freedom fighter and Commander of Joupurhat Sadar Muktijoddha Sangsad Afsar Ali said: “It has been 44 years since independence but the Koroi-Kadipur mass-killers have not yet been tried.” He demanded a trial under this government’s tenure.
M Nurunnabi, resident of the upazila’s Saguna village, retired professor and ex-chairman of Commerce department of Notre Dame College in Dhaka, said he on behalf of Srijoni organises various programmes to remember the martyrs every year on April 26. He expressed displeasure saying: “Let alone holding a trial for the mass-killing, the government does not even have any official programmes to remember these 371 villagers who gave their lives.”
District Administrator Md Abdur Rahim said every year on the Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14 they pay respect to the Koroi-Kadipur martyrs, but there are no official programmes for April 26.