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{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Kaliganj massacre <br/>কালিগঞ্জ গণহত্যা
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| map = {{Location map|Bangladesh|lat=26.10|long=88.92|caption=}}
| map_caption =
| location = Kaliganj, Rangpur, [[East Pakistan]]
| target = [[Bengali Hindus]]
| coordinates =
| date = 27 April 1971
| time =
| timezone = UTC+6:00
| type = [[Massacre]]
| fatalities = 400
| injuries =
| perps = [[Pakistani Army]]
| weapons = Rifles
| numparts =
}}

'''Kaliganj massacre''' ({{lang-bn|কালিগঞ্জ গণহত্যা}}) refers to the massacre of unarmed [[Bengali Hindus]] fleeing to India in Kaliganj market, in the present day [[Jaldhaka Upazila]] of [[Nilphamari District]] on 27 April 1971. An estimated 400 [[Bengali Hindus]] were killed by the Pakistan Army.<ref name="bd24live">{{cite news|url=http://bd24live.com/5/25/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A3%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D/#.U25vlPmSzpc|script-title=bn:আজ জলঢাকা কালিগঞ্জ গণহত্যা দিবস|date=27 April 2014|work=bd24live.com|language=Bengali|accessdate=10 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="ittefaq27042013">{{cite news|url=http://www.ittefaq.com.bd/index.php?ref=MjBfMDRfMjdfMTNfMV8yNV8xXzM2NTA1|script-title=bn:আজ জলঢাকায় গণহত্যা দিবস|date=27 April 2013|work=The Daily Ittefaq|language=Bengali|accessdate=10 May 2014|location=Dhaka}}</ref> It is alleged that this massacre was masterminded by [[Convention Muslim League|Muslim League]] leader and central minister [[Kazi Abdul Kader]].<ref>{{cite news |title='No vote' campaign against anti-liberation elements |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-66576 |work=The Daily Star}}</ref>

== Background ==
In 1971, Kaliganj market fell under Jaldhaka police station of Nilphamari sub-division of the erstwhile greater Rangpur district. Now, known as the Bangabandhu market, it falls under the Golna Union of [[Jaldhaka Upazila]] of [[Nilphamari District]] in [[Rangpur Division]]. The Bangabandhu market is situated 9 km to the north west of Jaldhaka Upazila headquarters.<ref name="banglanews2427042014">{{cite news|url=http://www.banglanews24.com/beta/fullnews/bn/285651.html|script-title=bn:কালিগঞ্জ গণহত্যা দিবস পালিত|date=27 April 2014|work=banglanews24.com|accessdate=10 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="jjdin27042013">{{cite news|url=http://www.jjdin.com/?view=details&type=single&pub_no=462&cat_id=1&menu_id=16&news_type_id=1&index=9&archiev=yes&arch_date=27-04-2013|script-title=bn:আজ কালীগঞ্জ গণহত্যা দিবস|date=27 April 2013|work=Jaijaidin|language=Bengali|accessdate=10 May 2014|location=Dhaka}}</ref>
{{Violence against Hindus in East Pakistan and Bangladesh}}

== Killings ==
In 1971, when the Pakistan army launched a genocidal campaign in Bangladesh, the Bengali Hindus of the area began to flee to India. On 27 April, more than a thousand [[Bengali Hindus]] of different unions of the present day [[Jaldhaka Upazila]] took refuge in Kaliganj market. Some of them left towards India. At around 10{{nbsp}}am, an estimated 300 Bengali Hindu men, women and children from Balagram Union arrived in Kaliganj market.

Around the same time a contingent of the Pakistan army arrived in Kaliganj market in four convoys. Before the stranded Bengali Hindu refugees could understand anything, they were sprayed with bullets. According to survivor Amar Krishna Adhikari, a Pakistani major separated the refugees into two groups. One group was taken to the nearby canal where they were shot dead. The rest were shot on the spot.<ref name="kk27042013">{{cite news|url=http://www.kalerkantho.com/print_edition/?view=details&archiev=yes&arch_date=27-04-2013&type=gold&data=news&pub_no=1225&cat_id=1&menu_id=56&news_type_id=1&index=18#.U250CfmSzpc|script-title=bn:আজ জলঢাকা গণহত্যা দিবস|date=27 April 2013|work=Kaler Kantho|language=Bengali|accessdate=10 May 2014|location=Dhaka}}</ref> The wounded were buried alive along with those who died on the spot.<ref name="ittefaq27042013"/>

== Aftermath ==
In 1999, a memorial was built in the memory of the victims.<ref name="jjdin27042013"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{1971 Bangladesh genocide|state=expanded}}

{{Coord|26.0736|N|88.9558|E|region:BD_type:event|display=title}}

[[Category:1971 Bangladesh genocide]]
[[Category:Massacres of Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:1971 in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Massacres in 1971]]
[[Category:Nilphamari District]]
[[Category:Massacres committed by Pakistan in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:April 1971 events in Bangladesh]]

Kaliganj massacre - Revision history

Bot at 06:44, 24 October 2021