‘After I keep in mind the bloodbath, I nonetheless shudder with concern. It used to be like a procession of corpses that day. Our bodies throughout, our bodies on most sensible of our bodies, our bodies mendacity within the canal for 2-3 days. Those that have been nonetheless within the lawn have been stuck and killed.’
That is how eyewitness Bhanu Hazra described the scene that opened up after the bloodbath by way of Pakistani forces within the rented tea lawn of Srimangal Upazila of Moulvibazar on Would possibly 1, 1971.
Bhanu Hazra stated he used to be about two decades previous throughout the 1971 Bangladesh liberation conflict.
His father, Mongu Hazra, used to be martyred by way of Pakistani forces simply 2-3 days earlier than the Bharaura bloodbath. Mongu Hazra guided the Indian Military group of workers to Sherpur in Moulvibazar.
There, Mongu Hazra used to be martyred by way of Pakistani infantrymen throughout the firing from all sides. He used to be buried subsequent to the home that day.
Bhanu additionally stated, ‘We have been listening to gunshots from the lawn. Best 7-8 other folks may live on. Listening to the gunshots, everybody left the lawn. It took place round 10-11 am.’
After the Pakistani troops left, Bhanu Hazra went to the scene and noticed a pile of our bodies within the canal. On that day, the soil of the Shakhamura chara (canal) adjoining to the department of the tea lawn were given pink with the blood of 47 tea employees.
In accordance to a few, this quantity is 53. Bhanu Hazra then moved to India together with her mom and brothers. All through the liberation conflict there, mom Sanchari Hazra and brother Mana Hazra have been martyred by way of the cannon fireplace of Pakistani forces in Kamalpur.
Every other witness, son-in-law Lalchan Hazra (75), sister of the injured Kedarlal Hazra of the south line of the tea lawn, stated, ‘I used to be within the lawn that day. I used to be having a look at them (Pakistani troops). Fireplace used to be erupting on the a long way labour line. In the meantime, I noticed two other folks firing. I noticed Kalachan, Nakla Hazra and 3 other folks firing close to the river. I concealed below a banyan tree in Charabari and watched them. I noticed other folks amassing.’
He additionally stated, ‘After that, I heard the sound of the firing. Lots of my family members died that day. I left the lawn after this incident.’
Seven other folks, together with Ramesh Hazra, Golapchan Hazra, Karma Hazra, Depua Hazra, and Kedarlal Hazra, survived the heap of lifeless our bodies that day. A few of them have been shot, some weren’t. He fell at the floor earlier than the shot. However none of them is alive lately.
A blue monument stands at the facet of the Srimangal-Bharaura street in ‘Bhadhya Bhoomi’ of Bharaura tea lawn. It’s surrounded by way of partitions about 3 ft top. However there’s no instant sense that this is a slaughterhouse.
Portray and cleansing paintings may also be noticed there. Kalighat union chairman Pranesh Goala is supervising the spot.
UP Chairman Pranesh Goala stated, ‘In 1996, the development of the pillar began on the initiative of Kalighat Union Parishad. Annually I paint and blank by myself accountability.’
Quoting the liberty warring parties, he stated, ‘From April 30, 1971, the Pakistani invading forces performed massacres in Srimangal till December 5. Many women and men, together with freedom warring parties, have been killed by way of them.
He stated that when Bangabandhu’s historical speech on March 7, 1971, the non-cooperation motion intensified in Srimangal. There used to be a stalemate in Srimangal’s tea business, together with places of work and courts.
Pakistani forces shot and killed 47 tea employees in a slaughterhouse within the Bharaura tea lawn space.
The memorial of the martyred freedom warring parties at the school street of Bharaura Tea lawn is status proudly, bearing its testimony even lately.
Credit
Reporter: Sahidul Hasan Khokon
Edited by way of: Tirtho Banerjee
Interactive Manufacturer: Raka Mukherjee
Interactive Developer: Vishal Rathour
Quilt Representation: Vani Gupta
