Jathibhanga massacre

Jathibhanga massacre (Bengali: জাঠিভাঙ্গা হত্যাকান্ড) was a massacre of the Bengali & Rajbanshi population in the Jathibhanga area of Shukhanpukuri Union under Thakurgaon sub-division of greater Dinajpur district on 23 April 1971 by the Pakistani Army in collaboration with the Razakars.[1][2][3][4][5] The collaborators included members from Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim League and Pakistan Democratic Party.[1][3] The victims of the massacre were all Hindus.[1][3] It is estimated that more than 3,000 Bengali Hindus were killed in the massacre within a few hours.[1]

Part of a series on
Violence against Hindus
in East Pakistan
and Bangladesh
Issues
Incidents after 1947 - East Pakistan
Incidents in 1971
Incidents after 1971 - Bangladesh
Jathibhanga massacre
জাঠিভাঙ্গা হত্যাকান্ড
LocationJathibhanga, Thakurgaon, Bangladesh
Date23 April 1971 (UTC+6:00)
TargetBengali Hindus
Attack type
Burst fire, mass murder, massacre
WeaponsMachine Guns
Deaths3,000-3,500
PerpetratorsPakistani Army, Razakars

Events

On the early morning of 23 April, the Hindus from the twelve villages of Jagannathpur, Chakhaldi, Singia, Chandipur, Alampur, Basudebpur, Gauripur, Milanpur, Khamarbhopla and Sukhanpokhari set out for India.[2][6] On their way, thousands of them gathered at a place called Jathibhanga for the onward journey. Soon after their arrival, the local collaborator blocked their exit routes out of Jathibhanga and intimated the Pakistani Army.[7] The Hindu men were led in a procession towards the Jathibhanga grounds. The Pakistani army who had by then arrived in two military trucks, forced the fleeing Hindus to stand in lines and burst fired them using machine guns. The killing spree started in the morning and went on till afternoon. After the military left, the collaborators moved the corpses to near the Pathraj river and covered them with earth.[2][6]

The estimated casualty varies between 3,000 and 3,500.[8] However, it is generally accepted that more than 3,000 people died in the massacre. An estimated 300 to 500[9][10] women were widowed.

Memorial

In 2009, the Bangladesh government constructed a memorial at the site of the mass killing.[6] In 2011, the survivors and the victims of the massacre brought out a mourning rally to commemorate the dead, followed by a condolence meeting. The speakers at the meeting demanded trial of the war criminals.[7]

In August, 2011, The Bangladesh government granted one time compensation of BDT 2,000 to 89 widows.[11][12] Touhidul Islam, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila stated five hundred widows of Jathibhanga village would be brought under this scheme phase by phase.[9][10][13]

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References
  1. Ahammed, Mohammad Shakeel (April 23, 2011). "ঠাকুরগাওয়ের জাঠিভাঙ্গা গণহত্যা দিবস উদ্‌যাপন". bdreport24.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  2. Sarkar, Tania (April 22, 2011). "ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ের জাঠিভাঙ্গা গণহত্যা দিবস ২৩ এপ্রিল". UK BD News. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  3. "ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ের জাঠিভাঙ্গা গণহত্যা দিবস পালিত". Dainik Karatoa. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  4. "Aid for war widows, finally". The Daily Star. August 25, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  5. "Jhathibhanga massacre day observed in Thakurgaon". The Daily Star. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  6. "যুদ্ধাপরাধের বিচার চান শহীদদের স্ত্রীরা". Samakal. April 18, 2010. Archived from the original on 2013-01-01. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  7. "জাঠিভাঙ্গা গণহত্যা: ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ে যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের বিচার দাবি". bdnews24.com. April 23, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  8. "Thakurgaon was freed on this day in 1971". The Daily Star. December 3, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  9. "৭১-এ স্বামীহারা ৫০০ নারী সরকারি সহায়তা পাচ্ছেন". The Daily GonoKantho. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  10. "এই প্রথম সরকারি সহায়তা পাচ্ছেন ৭১'র গণহত্যায় ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ের স্বামীহারা ৫শ মহিলা". Rnetnews.com. August 24, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  11. "একাত্তরে স্বামীহারা সাড়ে ৩শ নারী সরকারি পাচ্ছেন সহায়তা". Shokaler Khabor. August 26, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  12. "ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ে তিনশ' স্বামীহারা সরকারি সহায়তা পেলেন". BanglaReport24.com. August 26, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  13. "ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ের ৫শ' বিধবা ভাতা পাচ্ছেন". The Daily Janakantha. August 26, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.

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