Khapra Ward in memory of 76 years

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Anant Dev from Silchar, Assam was with Aminul Islam of Pabna in cell number 20 of Khapra Ward of Rajshahi Central Jail. Both were immobilized due to severe injuries. Their condition was deteriorating further due to poor treatment. At that time Anant Dev was transferred to Dhaka Central Jail. Jelsathi Aminul, who was on his deathbed, did not feel anything. After 47 years both of them come to know that they are alive.

Anant Dev wrote, he was coming to Dhaka on 23rd April 1998 in Jayantika Express. Aminul Islam was present to welcome him. According to Anant Dev, ‘Both were not supposed to know each other at the station. But the spiritual relationship is so deep that when Aminul saw me in seat number 19 from the window of room C of the train, he asked, “You are eternal?” (Khapra Ward murder 1950, Matiur Rahman).

Reading so far, the incident of 76 years ago made my eyes wet. On April 24, 1950, the then police fired indiscriminately on the patriotic royal prisoners in this Khapra ward due to their hunger strike and protest against the poor quality of food and the torture of the prisoners. 7 prisoners were killed. 32 people were injured. Two of the injured persons are Aminul Islam and Anant Dev.

The two hugged each other as they got down to the platform in Dhaka. The next day, April 24 (1998), they attended the ‘Khapra Shaheed Remembrance’ ceremony at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka. Aminul Islam was felicitated on that occasion. This pioneer personality of cultural movement came to Silchar city of Assam, India, after receiving his invitation.

Anant Dev wrote, ‘It was my turn to leave Dhaka in the early morning of April 27. I will return to Sylhet by Parabat Express. Aminul came running frantically. After many words, before leaving the car, Aminul hugged me and said, “See you, I will come to you there.” This is the last thing my husband Aminul said to me during his lifetime. He didn’t come, he didn’t show up. He left forever on August 4, 1998. The word became a treasure in the pages of my memory.

The Rajbandis killed in police firing in Khapra Ward are Sukhendu Bhattacharya of Mymensingh, Compram Singh of Thakurgaon (then Dinajpur), Sudhin Dhar of Chapainawabganj, Delwar Hossain and Hanif Sheikh of Kushtia, Bijan Sen and Anwar Hossain of Khulna. Almost all of them were soldiers of the freedom struggle of peasants-workers-hardworking people inspired by communist ideals. At that time, as the identity of inhuman violence and brutality of the exploiting class was exposed on the one hand, great heroism, glorious self-sacrifice and highest human qualities were revealed in the liberation struggle of the exploited people.

About 2 thousand prisoners were kept then. The prison authorities wanted to reduce the prisoners to the level of animals. At that time, after seven more prisoners were brought from Dhaka Jail, the total number of prisoners in Khapra Ward became 39. it is

The royal prisoners understood. Hence the Jail Committee of the CPI (Communist Party of India) was formed. Compram Singh was in this jail committee. He was admitted to the hospital a day after being injured. He died there. In March last year, when I went to the home of this martyred leader in Thakurgaon, I was saddened to see the plight of his relatives.

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The names of the slain Rajbandis are engraved on the monument built on the south side of Khapra Ward. Every year on April 24, CPB and Workers’ Party pay homage at the Shaheed Minar inside the jail.

No prisoners have been kept in this ward since 1999. The ward was declared condemned. The shed collapsed in the middle. However, later it was renovated as before. Earlier also the Chala tiles were red in colour. Even after the renovation, the same color tiles have been installed. The exterior walls and pillars are also red in color. It is as if Khapra Ward itself is playing the role of a monument, stained with the blood of martyrs.

Rajshahi Central Jail has come of age. The first prison was opened in 1825 in the Nawab’s horse stables. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department has undertaken the ‘Rajshahi Central Jail Reconstruction Project’ to demolish the jail and build a new one. For this they have deposited DPP of about 500 crore rupees. The design has also been approved. The design accommodates 64 new structures. The new jail will have a capacity of 2,000 people. It also has a women’s ward with mothers, a day care center for children and a female prison school for recreation.

After knowing this news, it became a thought in the mind – what will happen to Khapra Ward? Next to it there is a memorial named after seven martyrs. What arrangements will be made to pay respect to the martyrs on April 24 every year?

I rushed to Rashidul Islam, Executive Engineer of Rajshahi Public Works Division-1. He assured that Khapra Ward, the only old building of this jail, has been kept as a heritage structure. There is also the Shaheed Minar.

It was learned that 10 people from Workers’ Party and 41 people from CPB have applied to the Ministry of Home Affairs. If they get permission, they will pay respect to the memory of the martyrs in Khapra Ward like every year.