Neglected Liberation War sites
It is nothing short of a tragedy that even after 46 years of independence, we have failed to preserve some of the most historic sites bearing the memories of the Liberation War. In Cox's Bazar, killing grounds, mass graves and other places have been grabbed and schools, government offices, madrasas and houses have been established on the sites. A war memorial built in 2012 in Kurigram remains neglected by authorities even four years after its completion. In Pabna, an abandoned telephone exchange building that witnessed the defeat of a Pakistani troop has turned into a safe haven for drug users.
Does this, in any way, embody the spirit of 1971? Is this what we owe to all those who put up resistance to Pakistani occupation forces and laid down their lives for the freedom that we, as a sovereign nation, enjoy today? As we already know, many such sites around the country have been grabbed by both public and private enterprises—in effect erasing their historical significance.
We must remember that preserving these sites is not just about paying respect to the courageous freedom fighters. This is also important for conducting research on the history of the Liberation War, deepening our understanding of mass violence and resistance during wartime, and documenting and archiving events related to the genocide at the hands of the Pakistani forces. As such, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs must take the lead in preserving these sites and removing the establishments that have sprung up there due to the consistent negligence of concerned authorities.
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