On January 6 in 1972, a series of mine blast at Maharaza Girizanath High School ground in Dinajpur killed about 580 freedom fighters, but the incident is still unknown to present generation due to lack of proper steps.
Even, after 45 years of the incident, locals are still waiting for a monument at the place where the tragedy took place.
Freedom fighters, political leaders, cultural activists and local people of Dinajpur demanded inclusion of the tragic incident in textbooks so that country people can know the great loss of the nation.
They came up with the demand on Friday while placing wreaths at the graveyards of freedom fighters at Chehelgazi Mazar, Dinajpur Sadar upazila, marking the horrific tragedy.
'Sixth January Smriti Parishad’, also echoed the demand saying that Dinajpur mine blast was the biggest incident after Liberation War and it should be included in textbooks to make people aware of the catastrophe.
On this day in 1972, 580 freedom fighters were killed in a series of explosions that followed an accidental mine blast at the transit camp of freedom fighters.
After the December 16 final victory against the Pakistan occupation army, around 800 freedom fighters belonging to erstwhile Sectors 6 and 7 were brought to the transit camp set up at the school ground, according to sources in Freedom Fighters' Welfare Association.
The freedom fighters under the supervision of the camp in-charge started searching out land mines and other explosives earlier planted by Pakistani forces at different places of Dinajpur and surrounding districts.
The recovered explosives, including mines, anti-tank mines, jumping mines and mortars shells, were piled up at the school ground.
On the day, the freedom fighters were unloading explosives from two trucks when accidentally a landmine exploded, and it led to a series of explosions, killing a large number of freedom fighters, said locals.
“We could not ensure how much freedom fighter died after mine blast, but the accident killed at least 500 freedom fighters,” said war-wound freedom fighter Montullah.
Freedom Fighter Md Shafiqul Haque Chutu, an eyewitness of the incident, former mayor of Dinajpur municipality and convener of ‘Sixth January Smriti Parishad’, said: “After the series blasts, locals rescued hundreds of wounded freedom fighters, but most of them could not be saved due to lack of treatment facilities in the war-ravaged country. Some had been taken to India later.”
Some 125 freedom fighters were buried at Chehelgazi under Dinajpur Sadar upazila with state honour while bodies of many others were taken by the family members.
Forty 45 years after the tragedy, the exact number of the victims could not be known due lack of proper initiatives. Present generation does not know about the incidents, alleged locals. Even, no monument was built at Maharaza Girizanath High School to remember the deceased.
On February 28, 1996, in a public meeting the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to build a monument at the tragedy place. But Dinajpur people are still waiting for the monument.
Sultan Kamal Uddin Bacchu, member secretary of Sixth January Smriti Parishad’, said: “We need to include the mine blast history to textbooks to know the present generation.”
Iqbalur Rahim, law maker of Dinajpur 3 constituency, said: “We have taken initiative to build a monument at the blast place. We had sent it to Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
“Present government is working to restore the heroic stories during Liberation War.”
Thursday, June 04, 2026
