The mass killing fields of 1971 remain neglected even after 51 years of independence, with initiatives to preserve the memory of those who were slaughtered by the Pakistan forces currently stalled.
In the nine months of the Liberation War, the Pakistani occupation army and its local collaborators - al-Badr, al-Shams and Razakars - resorted to genocide across the country. The bodies of most of their victims were unceremoniously dumped in mass graves, most of which still remain unmarked.
In Barisal district, 33 killing fields have so far been identified, but efforts to preserve 30 of them are yet to see the light of day. Around 50,000 people were massacred in these killing fields in the nine upazilas of the district.
Meanwhile, eight years have passed since a court ordered the preservation of Chittagong's Pahartali Boddhobhumi, known as the “Jalladkhana” in 1971, but the initiative is stuck in the land acquisition process.
Although there are a total of 111 killing fields in Chittagong, it has not been possible to protect even one so far, said Pradeep Dewanji, vice-president of Boddhobhumi Raksha Parishad. Some of the killing fields are on land currently occupied by the private University of Science & Technology Chattogram (USTC).
Most of the killing fields in Naogaon are also unprotected at the moment. One such ground is Halimnagar Boddhobhumi of Patnitala upazila. On November 30, 1971, 36 members of ethnic minorities were lined up and shot dead by Pakistan forces in the area, but there is no memorial plaque or boundary wall. The area is now used as arable land.
Thousands of other killing fields across the country are in similar condition.
According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, 35 places in the country have been identified as mass killings fields at various times and are being preserved. But no list is available regarding the total number of places used as killing sites during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
The War Crimes Facts Finding Committee has so far identified around 942 killing fields in the country, including 116 places in Chittagong alone.
The total number of killing grounds in the country may be as high as 5,000, according to the committee.
Khaja Miah, secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, told Dhaka Tribune the government is seriously working on the conservation of killing sites. However, the process takes time and is extremely difficult as much of the land has been privately owned for many years and structures have been constructed at various times.
“However, the initiative we started in 2021 to build 30,000 homes for freedom fighters is progressing as expected. Five thousand homes have already been completed; 17,000 houses are under construction. So far, tenders for the construction of 21,000 houses have been completed,” he added.
Killing sites in Dhaka disappearing
During a spot visit to 11 killing sites of 1971 in the capital, the Dhaka Tribune correspondent found that three of the sites are completely untraceable.
Markets and shopping complexes obscure the mass grave in Mirpur's Muslim Bazar. During the expansion of the former Noor Mosque, locals unearthed a few skulls in a nearby pond.
The mosque was later renamed Shaheed Muktijoddha Jame Masjid. As a tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 mass killing, one pillar in the mosque has been painted black, the muezzin, Ibrahim Khalil, said.
Meanwhile, in Mirpur's Shialbari, a mass grave has been turned into a family graveyard.
Ramzan Ali Matbar, one of the owners of the cemetery, claims that the graveyard was established in 1912, long before the war.
“Some people from the government came to us and talked about this. If anyone wants to be buried here, we have an option here. But we can't leave our family graveyard,” he said.
Minister for Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Haque said the number of killing sites is yet to be confirmed. A total of 281 such fields have been conserved and 35 have been protected by the government.
The ministry is working for the conservatorship of the 281 sites under the Baddhabhumi project, he added.
The Ministry has prepared a Development Project Proposal (DPP) for conservation of mass killing sites and construction of monuments. During the War of Independence, initiatives were first taken to preserve 176 killing sites in the country under this project, but the number was later reduced to 129 due to problems with identification and construction.
According to the Genocide and Torture Archive and Museum, a total of 2,834 mass killing sites in 34 districts have been found. Around 14,452 killings have taken place in the spots, and the museum classified 759 of the sites as Boddhobhumi, 1,048 as mass graves, and 1,027 as torture cells.
The museum claimed that there are about 10,000 spots in 64 districts.
“As part of a project, we have worked in 40 districts so far,” said Dr Chowdhury Shahid Kader, director of the 1971 Genocide-Torture Archive and Museum Trust.
“Our primary target is to identify the spots and establish monuments,” he added.
Historian Muntassir Mamoon, president of 1971 Genocide-Torture Archive and Museum Trust, told Dhaka Tribune that they have described the mass killing places in the form of 32 books.
Researchers believe that if these mass killing fields scattered in Bangladesh are not quickly de-occupied under the supervision of the state, the new generation will be deprived of knowing the history of the Liberation War.
