<i>Memorial of mine blast victims in utter neglect</i>
The mass grave at Chehelgazi village in Dinajpur Sadar upazila, where bodies of over a hundred freedom fighters and detached limbs of many more unidentified others killed in January 6 tragedy in 1972 were buried, remains in utter neglect. Photo: STAR
The memorial, built in honour of around 800 victims of the mine blast tragedy on January 6 in 1972 on the premises of Moharaja Girijanath High School at Balubari in Dinajpur town has remained in utter neglect. Same is the condition of their mass grave at Chehelgazi village in Dinajpur Sadar upazila. After the final victory against the Pakistan occupation forces on December 16 in 1971, a transit camp of freedom fighters under sectors 6 and 7 were set up at the school. About eight hundred freedom fighters were staying at the transit camp while hundreds of mines and mortar shells left by the Pakistan occupation forces at different places were gathered and kept at the camp. In the afternoon on the fateful day, an accidental mine blast led to a series of explosions, shaking several square kilometres of area and covering the school premises with thick smoke bellowing high. Orgy of blood and blown up limbs of the freedom fighters created a pathetic scene in the area. Around 200 freedom fighters died on the spot that day and many other injured died later, said Dinajpur Municipality Mayor Md Shafiqul Haque, also an eyewitness freedom fighter. Bodies of 86 martyred freedom fighters and detached limbs of unidentified others were buried at the place with state honour the following day. Later 27 more martyred freedom fighters were buried. However, the exact number of the victims could not be known. The memorial plaque contains names of 120 freedom fighters who became victim of the tragedy only a few days after the final victory over the occupation forces. The monument area has turned into a garbage dumping station and cattle grazing field, showing utter callousness of the local administration and the authorities of Moharaja Girijanath High School. During a recent visit to the site, this correspondent found goats roaming on its premises and garbage littering the area. The school authorities would do a great job to honour the martyred freedom fighters if they arrange keeping the monument premises clean with the help of students of the school, said members of January 6 Smriti Parishad, a local committee that arranges functions in memory of the martyrs every year.
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