Photo: TDM
People observed April 12 as the Martyr's Day in Saidpur under Nilphamari district through various programmes.
Marking the day, various pro-liberation organisations, including the Projonmo 71, organised different programmes.
During the liberation war in 1971, the then Provincial Council members Dr Zikrul Haque, Tulsiram Agarwala, Dr Shamsul Haque, Dr Badiuzzaman, Dr Yakub Ali, Railway Officer Ayez Uddin, Jamuna Prasad Kedia, Rameshwarlal Agarwala, Narayan Prasad and some others were kept blindfolded in Saidpur Cantonment.
On April 12, they were shot dead while remaining blindfolded at the Nisbetganj slaughterhouse on the northern side of Rangpur cantonment.
On the day, black flags were hoisted on top of the public and private institutions in the upazila town.
The organisers wore black badges, paid tribute by placing wreaths at the local martyrs' memorial, organised discussion meetings, iftar and doa mahfil marking the day.
According to the local freedom fighters (FFs) and martyrs' families, the battle against the sudden attack of Pakistani forces across the country started on March 25 in 1971, but the liberation war started in Saidpur on March 24.
At that time, the then local non-Bengalis (Urdu speakers) declared Saidpur Upazila Sadar as 'New Bihar'.
As Saidpur was dominated by non-Bengalis, they had a good relationship with the Pakistani army. With their help, a section of non-Bengalis carried out lootings and killings in areas adjacent to Saidpur town.
Bangabandhu's speech at the Dhaka Race Course ground on March 7 wooed huge response in Saidpur. Under the leadership of Dr Zikrul Haque, a then member of the Provincial Council, all Bengalis joined hands in Saidpur.
Later on June 13 in 1971, the largest annihilation took place in Saidpur.
On this day, 478 Marwari family members of the city were taken on a train in the name of sending them to India. All were brutally killed and their belongings were looted at the northern end of the railway factory. Children were also brutally killed.
MR Alam Jhantu, a member of Projonmo-71 and son of a martyr family, said that like every year, the Martyr's Day was observed locally this year in Saidpur on April 12 with due fervour and solemnity.
TDM/MI
