Dhapdhup massacre

Dhapdhup massacre (Bengali: ঢাপঢুপ গণহত্যা) was a pre-planned murder of Bengali Hindus in the Hindu-majority areas around Islampur and Sukhanpokhari in Boda Upazila in Panchagarh District, Bangladesh in April 1971 by the Pakistan Army in collaboration with the Razakars during the Bangladesh Liberation War. [1][2] It is estimated that more than 3,500 Bengali Hindus were killed in the massacre within a few hours. [3]

Dhapdhup massacre
ঢাপঢুপ গণহত্যা
Dhapdhup massacre (Bangladesh)
LocationDhapdhup Beel, Panchagarh, Rangpur division, Bangladesh
DateApril 1971 (UTC+6:00)
TargetBengali Hindus
Attack type
Burst fire, mass murder, massacre
WeaponsMachine Guns
Deaths3,500 (approx.)
PerpetratorsPakistani Army, Razakars
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

Events

On getting the news of the indiscriminate killings by the Razakars and the Pakistan Army, the Bengali Hindus in areas around Islampur and Sukhanpokhari gathered at the mango orchard on the banks of the Dhapdhup Beel (Billabong) in Islampur for the onward journey. The Occupation Forces[4] of Pakistan Army and Razakars chased those who had left after sunrise in the morning, blocking the way and herding them back and gathered those who had taken refuge in the mango orchard. They were then lined up and killed by burst fire from machine guns from behind, and the survivors were stabbed with bayonets. Their bodies were dumped in the lake and some bodies were buried with soil. Males were selectively chosen and killed, while women were raped.[5] Today the widows of Dhapdhup massacre live in the বিধবা পল্লী (Bidhoba Pally, "widow street") in Sukhanpokhari village, which is 500 yards from the site of massacre.[6]

Aftermath

The lake is now famous as the site of the Dhapdhup Massacre. A memorial plaque was erected in 2011 with the financial support of the Panchagarh District Council in collaboration with Deputy Commissioner Banamali Bhowmik.[7]

References
  1. "Testimonies Of Atrocity-297103".
  2. "বধ্যভূমিতে প্রদীপ প্রজ্বলন | সারাদেশ | The Daily Ittefaq".
  3. "New survey says figure of genocide incidents in 1971 was higher | New Age".
  4. "Explain what is 'Hanadar Bahini' | The Daily Star".
  5. "ঢাপঢুপ বিলে সাড়ে ৩ হাজার মানুষকে হত্যা করা হয় - BDMayor".
  6. "বধ্যভূমির গদ্য (Unicoded) Part 4 | সংগ্রামের নোটবুক".
  7. "অযত্ন-অবহেলায় বধ্যভূমি | প্রথম আলো".

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