Survivors of '71 massacre

Two siblings, who survived bullet injuries after a brutal massacre by the Pakistan occupation force in the town during the 1971 Liberation War, are still carrying the harrowing memory.

Saiful Islam, 64, and Akter Hossain, 62, sons of late Entaz Ali and Sakhera Khatun, were saved from certain death during the massacre on April 5 in 1971 as late Nanna Bashfor, a Harijan (sweeper), came to their rescue.

Saiful (then 18), and Akter (then 16), were forcibly taken from their residence in Wireless Colony area by Urdu speaking Bihari people led by Kala Khan, alias Kalu Gunda, to the mass killing ground (now used as a rickshaw stand) beside the railway station at noon on April 5 in 1971. There they were made to stand in line, along with around 600 other Bangalees.

“As the Pakistani soldiers opened fire to kill us, we all fell to the ground. Afterwards, the bodies were thrown into a canal near the railway station by sweepers,” said Saiful Islam.

“I and my younger brother got bullet injuries in our legs and hands but we were still alive. Possibly all other bullet-hit people died.

“Sweeper Nanna Bashfor came to help us when we cried “Bachao, bachao” (save, save). He rescued us and told us to go hiding,” said Akter Hossain.

“But we had hardly any energy to walk. At night we went home, crawling. I am still carrying the pain of bullet injuries in my body,” he said.

“We are grateful to Nanna Bashfor for saving our life. I always pray for his departed soul,” said Akter Hossain.

“Often the horrible scene of massacre appears in my dream at night,” said Saiful.

After the independence, Saiful Islam got a railway job and his three sons and a daughter are now established.

But Akter Hossain is passing hard days with his eight-member family.