Record history of communists in democratic stuggles

Eminent journalists and leftist leaders yesterday called for penning the history of communist movements that played a significant contribution to the country's democratic struggles.

They said there were efforts to ignore communists' contributions, especially by the nationalist political forces, and it was high time that youths started documenting their history to inspire future generations.

The observations came at the publication ceremony of a book, “Khapra Ward Killings 1950”, authored by Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman and published by Prothoma Prokashon, in the capital's Bangladesh National Museum.

On April 24 in 1950, a Rajshahi jail's guards opened fire on communist prisoners protesting against torture and substandard food during the Muslim League rule in the then Pakistan period.

Of 39 communist leaders, seven were killed. They include Sukhendu Bhattacharya of Mymensingh, Baloram Singh of Dinajpur, Sudhin Dhar of Nawabganj, Delwar Hossain and Hanif Sheikh of Kushtia and Bijan Sen and Anwar Hossain of Khulna.

All except three of the remaining were seriously injured, said Matiur Rahman, adding that the book was based on newspaper reports, articles, interviews of the injured leaders and their relatives.

Speakers lauded the author's relentless efforts to write the book, which they said would fill a historical void.

Stating that it was okay for people as citizens to demand their rights, journalist Kamal Lohani, chairing the ceremony, questioned whether they paid due respect to people who helped achieve the country's independence.

He said Khapra Ward Killing Day was observed in a scattered manner in three to four places, including Rajshahi, but it should be observed nationally.

“Communists have a great role in every democratic movement of Bangladesh but it is almost ignored at national level,” he said, calling for documenting the history of the Communist Party of Bangladesh.

Language movement veteran and poet Ahmad Rafiq said Muslim League was ferocious after the 1947 partition which led to the independence of India and Pakistan and the killing was a glaring example.

Many communist leaders were killed during the Muslim League regime for their progressive movements but little has been documented due to negligence towards history and tradition, he added.

Satta Ranjan Bhattacharya, one of the injured who now lives in India's Shiliguri, in a video message said the murdered victims were in everyone's hearts. As history is being written today, their memories would inspire all, he added.

Gopesh Malakar, present in the jail during the killing; Dripta Roy, daughter of injured Prasad Roy; and Sabirul Islam Biplob, son of another injured leader Amirul Islam, also spoke.