Family members of three martyrs, who were killed by Pakistani army during the Liberation War, have built a small memorial in their yard in Saidpur municipality of the district at their own expense.
Pakistani army killed three members of the family of Dijendra Nath Mallick on April 15 in 1971. Dijendra, a Christian, was an employee of Saidpur railway workshop at the time. His wife Sarojini Mallick, 50, and sons Abraham Mallick, 18, and Jackob Mallick, 13, were the victims.
“After independence, my father tried to be included in the government list as a family member of martyrs, but failed. He was in mental agony due to that. He died in 1976,” said Silvia Anne Mallick, 54, Dijendra's daughter.
“We built a memorial in the house yard at our own expense and place wreaths on it and offer prayers for all martyrs on every national day to lessen our sorrow,” said Reba Rani Mallick, 60, Silvia's sister.
“Freedom fighters and the committee for preserving memories of the Liberation War in Saidpur identified 223 families whose members were killed by the Pakistan army during the war, and we are looking to see if there are more,” said Muktijoddha Sangsad Nilphmari unit Commander Fazlul Huque.
“Martyred freedom fighters' family and martyred family of Liberation War have different definitions, and we have a list of the former category,” said Bazlur Rashid, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Saidpur.
“We will invite and honour all families of martyrs, including the Christian family, on the next Independence Day,” the UNO added.
