Bot at 23:17, 28 November 2021

2021-11-28T23:17:21Z

New page

{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Akhira massacre
| native_name = আখিরা গণহত্যা
| native_name_lang = bn
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| map = {{Location map|Bangladesh|lat=25.80|long=88.88|caption=}}
| map_caption =
| location = Baraihat, Dinajpur,East Pakistan
| target = [[Bengali Hindus]]
| coordinates =
| date = 17 April 1971
| time =
| timezone = UTC+6:00
| type = [[Burst fire]], [[Mass murder]], [[Massacre]]
| fatalities = 93-125
| injuries =
| perps = Pakistani army, [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]]
| weapons = Machine guns
| numparts =
}}

'''Akhira massacre''' ({{lang-bn|আখিরা গণহত্যা}}) was a massacre of the emigrating [[Bengali Hindus|Hindus]] of the then Dinajpur district near Baraihat on 17 April 1971 by the Pakistani army with collaboration from the local [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]].<ref name="janakantha">{{cite news |script-title=bn:আখিরা গণহত্যা দিবস আজ |url=http://www.karatoa.com.bd/details.php?pub_no=539&menu_id=15&val=62439 |newspaper=The Daily Janakantha |date=April 17, 2010 |language=bn |access-date=January 26, 2012 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054908/http://www.karatoa.com.bd/details.php?pub_no=539&menu_id=15&val=62439 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="karatoa">{{cite news |script-title=bn:আখিরা গণহত্যা দিবস আজ |first=Sheikh Sabeer |last=Ali |url=http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/news_view_all.php?nc=14&dd=2010-04-17 |newspaper=Dainik Karatoa |language=bn |access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=bn:আজ ১৭ এপ্রিল দিনাজপুরের ফুলবাড়ি আখিরা গণহত্যা দিবস |url=http://dinajpurnews.com/2010/04/16/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%AD-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB/ |newspaper=dinajpurnews.com |date=April 17, 2010 |language=bn |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708014201/http://dinajpurnews.com/2010/04/16/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%AD-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB/ |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref><ref name="sarkar">{{cite news |script-title=bn:আজ ১৭ এপ্রিল ফুলবাড়ীর আখিরা গণহত্যা দিবস |first=Sanket |last=Sarkar |url=http://www.bdreport24.com/archives/18722 |newspaper=bdreport24.com |date=April 17, 2011 |language=bn |access-date=January 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509110426/http://www.bdreport24.com/archives/18722 |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> It is estimated that around 100 Hindus were killed in the massacre.<ref name="janakantha"/>
{{Violence against Hindus in East Pakistan and Bangladesh}}

== Events ==
In April 1971, a member of the [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakar]] forces, Kenan Uddin Sarkar of Ramchandrapur village under Parbatipur sub-division of Dinajpur district, assured 50 Hindu families of neighbouring Badarganj, Kholahati, Birampur, Aftabganj and Sherpur of a safe passage to [[India]]. He kept the Hindus confined at a place called Baraihat in present-day Phulbari Upazila. The Razakars and the Al-Badr militia looted the money and jewelry from [[Bengali Hindus|Hindus]] during their confinement. After that another Razakar, an associate of Kenan Uddin Sarkar informed the Pakistani army. The Pakistani army took the hostage Hindus to Akhira, 100 metres from south of Baraihat. It was about 11 A.M. The Hindus were made to stand in a row beside a pond, the men in one line and the women and children in another. They were [[burst fire]]d from machine guns. A few children and teenagers who were survived the burst fire, were [[bayonet]]ted to death. According to eye witness accounts, after gunning down the men, the Pakistani soldiers turned their attention to the females, and brutally [[Types of rape#Gang rape|gang raped]] them at that spot.<ref name="sarkar"/> After the victory in the Liberation War, the local people executed Kenan Uddin Sarkar by the method of [[Dhabihah|Jabiha]].<ref name="karatoa"/>

== Casualty ==
The male members of the captive Hindu families were massacred by the Pakistani army. According to the most conservative reports, the casualty figure is 85. Eight local Muslims, who had witnessed the massacre were also killed later. According to other version, around 125 Hindus died in the massacre. Though there is no general consensus regarding the casualty figures, it is generally accepted around 100 Hindus were killed in the massacre.

== Memorial ==
No memorial has been erected at the mass killing site at Akhira. The local people organize Milad Mehfil and Quran Khawani in memory of the dead.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{1971 Bangladesh genocide|state=expanded}}
{{Coord|25.80|N|88.88|E|region:BD_type:event|display=title}}

[[Category:Massacres in 1971]]
[[Category:1971 in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1971 Bangladesh genocide]]
[[Category:Massacres of Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:Massacres of men]]
[[Category:Massacres committed by Pakistan in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:April 1971 events in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Violence against men in Asia]]

Akhira massacre - Revision history

Bot at 23:17, 28 November 2021