Although 50 years of Liberation War was passed, the nation is unlucky enough to recognize the battlefields by preserving the spots for an unknown reason. It is a mistrust with the Liberation War heroes, said some freedom fighters (FFs).
A total of 41 people were brutally killed at Abaipur under Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah on October 14 in 1971. Neither the government nor the political leaders preserve the spots till now.
FFs said some 100-130 young FFs had established camp at Kumiradah village in Abaipur area during the Liberation War. They were preparing to attack the occupying soldier to take Shailkupa thana headquarters in their control.
They were informed that the occupying forces after a mass heinous activities massacre set houses on fire, killing huge innocent people, abusing women and looting the people at Khamarpara and some other villages at Sripur of Magura, were marching towards Shailkupa in Jhenaidah on October 13 of 1971.
The brave FFs decided to attack on the occupying forces when they would cross the area. The FFs had dug three trances on Abaipur-Sripur road. Airman Mazibar Rahman, who left the Pakistan Air Force, was leading the team of the FFS.
The FFs were divided into three groups led by three other FF leaders. Nazrul Islam took possession at Water and Power Development Board (WAPDA), Manwar Hossain Malita at East side of Abaipaur Bridge, while Golam Rais at the south bank of River Kumar.
Information about the freedom-loving youths was leaked anyhow to the occupying forces at Shailkupa headquarters and they raided Abaipur from three sides in the dead of the night. They started firing on the FFs with searchlight that continued till the next morning. The brave soldiers had tried utmost to resist the attackers with their efforts which could be success, but failed. They had retreated faster where 41 youths were brutally killed.
Although the names of all the martyred could not be known, 17 of them were identified. They are Nazrul Islam, Abul Hossain, Abu Jafar, Ismail Hossain, Cheton Joarder, Yusuf Ali, Alim Uddin, Simar Ali, Abu Sufian, Serajul Islam, Abul Kashem, Azibar Rahman, Shahadat Hossain, Babar Ali, Moksed Ali, Shahidul Islam and Rustam Ali.
The freedom surviving fighters and the near and dear ones of the martyrs observe October 14 every year at Abaipur to remember the heroic sons.
A number of freedom fighters said they were graved when the proper honour was not shown to the martyrs. FF Elahin Sheikh, who participated in the fight on October 13 night, said that the mass graves of the martyrs are not preserved. Huge bush and jungles developed on the mass graves.
They demanded of the authorities to preserve the mass graves at Abaipur and other places.
Rahmat Ali Mantu, ex-commander of Shailkupa thana unit commandof Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad, said that the freedom fighters of Shailkupa were frustrated over the negligence as the mass graves inside the WAPDA colony and canal banks at Abaipur village remain unprotected and unidentified.
Even the future generation including local children does not know the history what happened in the night of October 13 in 1971 yet, Mantu said.
It is really a shame for the nation even after a half century when the country was liberated upon by the freedom fighters when father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called upon the people through his voice in 1971.
Rahmat Ali Mantu further said that the day is observed anyway by the local freedom fighters at Abaipur union parishad complex where a number of heroic sons are sleeping in a mass grave. He called upon the government to take initiative in this regard.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) at Shailkupa Saiful Islam said he was not enough informed about the mass graves. He joined on July 29 last year and the freedom fighters observed the day of massacre during his tenure on October 14.