FENI, Mar 14: The mass graves, proof of the inhuman atrocity of the Pakistani Army to the Bangalee during the War of Liberation in 1971, still await detection by the authorities concerned. As a result, the graves are getting lost over the time.
During the war, the Pakistani Army and their local collaborators conducted atrocities against the locals. After killing numerous people, they dumped the bodies in different ponds, canals, rivers, water bodies and jungles.
After the independence on December 16, 1971, the relatives of the missing people searched for their bodies at eight mass graves in the district.
But, though 46 years have gone, the government has not taken any steps to renovate the graves for the sake of the country's history on the Liberation War.
Of the mass graves in Feni, five are- Feni Government College mass grave in Sadar upazila, Rajapur School and College mass grave in Dagonbhuiyan upazila, Jammura village mass grave in Fulgazi upazila, and Malipathar mass grave and Solia mass grave in Porshuram upazila.
Besides, there are several other mass graves which await identification and recognition.
In the Feni Government College mass grave, the Pakistani Army and their local collaborators dumped many bodies of Bangalees after killing them at different places at the college and former CO office areas. It is the largest mass grave which has not been properly preserved.
During 1971, there was a camp of the Pakistani Army at Rajapur School in Dagonbhuiyan upazila. Local veteran freedom fighter Abul Kalam Patwary said, many people including freedom fighter Ashraf were killed and their bodies were dumped here.
In Jammura mass grave at Fulgazi upazila, at least 26 people were killed. Feni Zila Parishad has erected a memorial beside the mass grave.
In Malipathar mass grave at Porshuram upazila, five members of a family were killed. A member of a martyred family Mawlana Md Nurul Amin said, through the mass grave has been identified, it has not been properly saved.
In Solia mass grave at the same upazila, three members of a family were killed. Upazila Freedom Fighter Commander Humayun Shahriar said, the grave is yet to be identified.
Valiant Freedom Fighter Md Abdul Hai demanded identification and proper maintenance of the mass graves.
Unit Commander of District Muktijoddha Sangsad Mir Abdul Hannan said, there are many unidentified mass graves across the district which need preservation, while only the Feni Government College mass grave has been identified.
He demanded immediate steps to identify the mass graves and preserve those for the sake of the country's liberation war
history.
