This memorial, marking the killing ground used by Pakistan occupation forces in Barisal city during the Liberation War, loses its sanctity as people going there just for pastime do not even care for taking off shoes in honour of the martyrs. Right, the bunker of the Pakistan army at their cantonment set up at the then complex of Water and Power Development Authority is getting damaged due to lack of proper maintenance. Photo: STAR

The badhyabhumi (killing ground) in Barisal city, a major witness to the brutalities of the Pakistan occupation forces during the Liberation War, is gradually losing its visible marks due to lack of maintenance during four decades after the independence.
During a visit to the Liberation War memento on the bank of the Kirtonkhola River a couple of days ago, this correspondent found the place lying in utter neglect.
The Pakistani occupation army set up its regional headquarters cum cantonment at the then complex of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in Barisal town on the bank of Kirtankhla.
The barbaric force detained and tortured a large number of freedom fighters and Liberation War activists there. Many of the freedom-loving people were shot dead on the riverbank and floated on the water.
"The Pakistan army continued detaining, torturing and killing freedom fighters and common people in that cantonment from April 25 to December 8 in 1971, when the occupation army left the town," said Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, a leader of the district unit of Muktijoddha Sangsad.
However, Al-Badars and Razakars, the local collaborators of the enemy force, continued occupying the stronghold till December 18, he said.
During the BNP led four-party alliance government in 2004, a memorial was constructed at an 'unsuitable' place inside the WAPDA complex, he said.
But the memorial built with a scanty budget of Tk 65 lakh lacks proper maintenance and it has now became a place for dating youths, and drug peddlers and other unsocial elements, he added.
"It is very unfortunate that after 40 years of independence we have to cry for preservation and maintenance of the mementoes of our glorious Liberation War," said Harunor Rashid, one of the freedom fighters who were detained and tortured in that cantonment of the occupation army said.
"In 2009, Barisal Sangskritik Sangathan Samannay Parishad with the help of Muktijoddha Jadughar and Barisal City Corporation (BCC) took an initiative to construct a memorial complex at the killing ground. Tarik Ali, trustee of the Muktijuddha Jadughar, handed over a design of that complex to BCC authorities in May 2011 for preparing a project," said MD Qutubuddin, district unit commander of Muktijoddha Sangsad.
Admitting the matter, Nikhil Chandra Das, chief executive officer of BCC, said, "BCC is preparing a plan for the memorial complex at the badhyabhumi. It will be placed before the local government ministry within a short time."