Badarganj Tragedy Recalled

On April 17 in 1971, more than 1500 innocent Bangalees were killed at Padmapukur-Jharuarbeel under Badarganj upazila of Rangpur district. On the day, Pakistani occupation forces with the help of Razakars, Al-Badars, Al-Shams and Behari criminals led by Bachchu Khan and Kamruzzaman came to Balapara and Kishamat Ghatabeel areas under Ramnathpur union of Badarganj upazila from Parbatipur by two trains in the morning. They immediately raided almost all villages under Ramnathpur and Bishnupur unions and started killing and torturing Bangalee men, women and children. They also looted properties, set fire to houses, raped and tortured hundreds of the women and minor girls. Later, they caught over 1,500 innocent Bangalees of all ages and took them to nearby Padmapukur-Jharuarbeel area in the afternoon and shot them dead. Photo shows the memorial built for the martyrs in Badarganj now wearing out for lack of maintenance. PHOTO: STAR