Several slaughterhouses of Katiadi upazila in Kishoreganj remained unprotected even after 50 years of independence. These slaughterhouses have been neglected due to lack of conservation. As a result, there is a suppressed anger among the people of the martyrs’ families.
It is learnt that during the War of Independence of Bangladesh, the Pak aggressors and their local accomplices used to capture the freedom-loving and Hindu people of Katiadi and kill them there. Since then, these places have been known as slaughterhouses. Only two signboards were erected in this upazila. There is none from the administration in their care. But years after years, the government is spending crores of taka in various sectors.
Going to the ground, it was seen that only nameplates have been put up in the slaughterhouse adjacent to Katiadi Pilot Girls’ High School (on the bank of Andrial Khan river). The plaque contained names of said 6 martyrs including Ashir Uddin and Abdul Matalib.
Although the names of Khaleq Afaz Uddin, Madhu Mia, Lal Mia and Lal Mia Shahid are mentioned, many more people were killed by the Pak army in Katiadi. At present the playground in the slaughterhouse has been filled with soil. The walls of the slaughterhouse memorial plaque are being used by traders to store construction materials. The area has been turned into a garbage dump.
On the other hand, there is a slaughter house in Kanthaltali village of Banagram union of the upazila. A memorial plaque has been erected at the slaughterhouse at the initiative of the villagers. The list contains the names of 15 martyrs. The martyrs are -- Jatindra Banik, Md Ishb Ali, Md Ashrab Ali, Md Nidu Mia, Md Abdul Hashim, Shri Dipali Dutt, Shri Nani Das, Md Innash Ali, Shri Makhan Chandra Sarkar, Shri Krishna Chandra Banik, Shri Nirudh Chandra Sarkar, Shri Ranjit Chandra Sarkar, Shri Ajit Chandra Sarkar, Md Abdul Rashid and Md Taku Mia. There is no supervision. As a result, the slaughterhouses remain unprotected. The people of the martyrs’ families urged the authorities concerned of the government to look into the matter.
Concerned people said that when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, was arrested in 1971 and imprisoned in Pakistan jail, many people were killed in this upazila
Martyr Mohammad was killed in the hands of the Pak-invaders during the the great liberation war in 1971. Abdul Hashim's eldest daughter Ambia Akhter expressed her anger and said, “My father was detained from his house and shot dead by the Pak-invaders. Mother and me, two sisters, did not receive any official cooperation.
Local hero Shafiqul Haque said, there was no official in charge of maintenance of the slaughterhouse at Kanthaltali village in Banagram union of the upazila adjacent to Katiadi Pilot Girls’ High School. Due to carelessness, it has become a dumping place for construction materials and garbage for traders. The slaughterhouse of the upazila has not yet been preserved.
Katiadi Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad, former commander, Israel Mia said, “There are two slaughterhouses in Katiadi upazila. There is no official maintenance. It is being used as a garbage dump and playground.”
Katiadi Upazila Executive Officer Akhtarun Nesha said, “The present government is sincere and sympathetic to all issues related to the liberation war. Funds have been allocated for the renovation of two slaughterhouses in Katiadi Upazila. He said that the work will start soon.