Bogura's 'blood hell' pond and 14 martyred freedom fighters

A red alert was suddenly issued in Thonthonia, Sutrapur, Hazipara, Tetulia and Pasharipara of Bogura city on November 11, 1971.

Some freedom fighters came to meet with their respective relatives of Thonthonia, Sutrapur, Hazipara areas of the town. The Pakistan forces took out 12 of them with the help of local peace committee members while they were taking Shehri during Ramadan at own houses.

The prisoners were taken in an army convoy to Baburpukur area under Kharna union of Shajahanpur upazila in the district and 11km away from Bogura town. Just before the Fair azan, Pakistani occupying forces opened fire on them and killed them. Even after the killing, the brutality of the Pakistani forces did not end, they used bayonets to stab the bodies of the dead martyrs. Later, some bodies were thrown into the pond. The pond water turned red with blood in an instant.

That day, 14 people were killed. They are--Abdul Mannan Pashari, Fazlul Haque Khan, Saiful Islam, Abdul Sabur, Mahfuzur Rahman, Abdul Hannan Pashari, Wazed Rahman Tuku, Jalal Mondal, Montu Mondal, Altaf Ali, Badsha Mia, Abul Hossain, female telephone operator Nurjahan and an unidentified person.

The Baburpukur mass grave contains the tragic memory of martyr Nurjahan, popularly known as Lakshmi. She was a telephone operator by profession. The Hindu woman fell in love with freedom fighter Tota Mia. Later, she converted to Islam and married Tota Mia.

That day, When Pakistani soldiers could not catch Tota Mia, they picked Nurjahan up out of anger. She was brought to Baburpukur and was made to stand next to the other lined up freedom fighters.

Rashedul Islam Morris, 70, a lawyer, visited the spot soon after the mass killing. He said: "The sound of gunshots spread panic throughout the village. After the Pakistani soldiers left, we rushed there. As soon as we stood on the bank of the pond, we saw only bodies and blood everywhere. Some bodies were on the bank of the pond, and some bodies were thrown into the pond. I can still see that scene when I close my eyes."

Rashedul Islam Morris is a resident of Khorona Baburpukur, but currently lives with his family in the Chakfarid area of ​​the city.

Baburpukur Badhyabhoomi Memorial was later set up across a 12-acre area and the graves of 14 martyrs were built ovet 3-acre area. In 1979 Bogura Press Club took an initiative to build the graves of the 14 Martyrs Freedom Fighters with Brick with the help of district parishad.

However, the martyred people are yet to be listed as Martyrs Freedom Fighters after such a long time, alleged their relatives.