Rajshahi University’s (RU) killing field, on the eastern side of the campus, stands as a stark witness to the brutal torture inflicted on Bengalis by Pakistani occupation forces during the 1971 Liberation War.
The monument built on the killing ground is reminiscent of the screams of the large number of innocent people, including teachers, students as well as employees of the university, who were subjected to gruesome torture by the Pakistani invaders during the nine-month-long war.
To the north of the main campus of the university is located the age-old three-story Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall and about half a kilometre east of the hall is the killing field's monument, surrounded by thousands of flowering trees.
In this killing field are buried mortal remains of unnumbered Bengalis who received martyrdom being persecuted by the Pakistani soldiers and their collaborators during the Liberation War.
RU Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall was used by the Pakistani occupation forces as their camp during the liberation war. Innocent Bengalis were brought from various areas to the hall and were subjected to inhuman torture. None were spared be they women or children.
In the morning, some were found lying dead or half-dead in the corridor of the hall. Upon being confirmed dead, they were buried in the field, even sometimes piling one body up on another.
In 1998, RU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Khalek placed a demand to the government to construct a monument there.
Later on December 21, 2002, in response to his demand, the then State Minister for Liberation War Redwan Ahmed laid the foundation stone of the monument.
On December 9, 2004, the then State Minister for Liberation War Prof Md Rezaul Karim inaugurated the killing field monument.
The 42 feet high monument is surrounded by a circular concrete altar, and there is a big well in the centre of the altar. The well is compared to 'the well of death'.
The dark black print on the face of the monument is used to symbolise the dried blood spots of the martyrs who contributed to the country's freedom.
Srabanti Azad Rimu, a student of the philosophy department of RU, said, "When I came to study at RU, I learned how much terrible history is hidden in our campus. The massacre next to Zuberi Bhavan or the mass grave in the middle field. Seeing these places, I understand how much sacrifice freedom came at. It is very painful to think that teachers and students were once killed in the places I walk over every day. I think it is important for every student to know these histories, because they deepen our patriotism and sense of responsibility."
It is believed that 3,000 to 4,000 innocent people who were brutally killed by the Pakistani occupation forces were buried in the killing field.
After the independence of the country, numerous human skulls and skeletons were spotted in this burial pit.
Mansur Ali, an employee of Rajshahi University who has been taking care of the massacre site for 21 years, said, "I joined in April 2004 and have been working here since then. I have been a permanent employee for 6 to 7 months. Fridays and Saturdays are off. I come at 7:30 am until 2 pm to look after the flowers, plant them, water them. I clean the ground and the seating areas next to them. Today I am cleaning inside the mass grave. We feel very happy that I got the opportunity to take care of a pillar from the Liberation War. I try to take the utmost care of this pillar." Mansur Ali also said, "I was very young during the Liberation War. Now I feel happy that I have the opportunity to take care of the massacre site. Visitors come to see the massacre site. Many people want to know its history. I tell them as much as I know."
