Dhapdhup massacre

LocationDhapdhup Beel, Panchagarh, Rangpur division, BangladeshDateApril 1971 (UTC+6:00)TargetBengali HindusBurst fire, mass murder, massacreWeaponsMachine GunsDeaths3,500 (approx.)PerpetratorsPakistani Army, Razakars

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Violence against Hindus in East Pakistan and Bangladesh
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Incidents after 1947 - East Pakistan
1950 Barisal Riots 1962 Rajshahi massacres 1964 East-Pakistan riots Sitakunda massacre Anderson Bridge massacre Muladi massacre
Incidents in 1971
Adityapur massacre Akhira massacre Bagbati massacre Baria massacre Barguna massacre Bhimnali massacre Dakra massacre Demra massacre Dhapdhup massacre Gabha Narerkathi massacre Galimpur massacre Golahat massacre Hasamdia massacre Ishangopalpur massacre Jandi massacre Jathibhanga massacre Jogisho and Palsha massacre Ketnar Bil massacre Krishnapur massacre Nikli massacre Pomara massacre Ramna massacre Satanikhil massacre Sendia massacre Shankharibazar massacre Shankharikathi massacre Sree Angan massacre Suryamani massacre Sutrapur massacre
Incidents after 1971 - Bangladesh
1989 Bangladesh pogroms Nidarabad murder case 1990 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence 1992 Bangladesh violence 2014 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence 2016 Nasirnagar Violence 2021 Bangladesh communal violence
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Dhapdhup massacre (Bengali: ঢাপঢুপ গণহত্যা) was a pre-planned massacre of over 3500 Bengali Hindus in the Hindu-majority areas around Islampur and Sukhanpokhari in Boda Upazila in the Panchagarh District of East Pakistan in April 1971 by the occupying 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]

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 armed 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