Army Bomb Disposal Unit Recovers 96 Mines in Meherpur Village
Photo Collected
MEHERPUR: A specialized bomb disposal unit from the Jessore Cantonment recovered 96 landmines buried in Betbaria village of Gangni Upazila on Monday, following the accidental discovery of the munitions by construction workers.
The recovery operation began at approximately 1:30 p.m. after military experts scanned the site using metal detectors. Over the course of two hours, the team unearthed 79 anti-personnel mines and 17 anti-tank mines. During the operation, members of the local police and the Border Guard Bangladesh secured the perimeter to ensure public safety. The recovered explosives were subsequently transported to the nearby Madhugari field, where the military is currently conducting controlled detonations.
The discovery was first reported on Saturday when laborers, excavating soil for a house construction project on land owned by expatriate Nuruzzaman Kalu, unearthed six metallic objects. The items bore markings including “PDFGL 63” and “Lot 37, Mine 1967.” Police immediately secured the site and contacted the military for assistance.
Shimul Kumar Das, Inspector (Investigation) of Gangni Police Station, confirmed that the area was thoroughly excavated to ensure no further threats remained. Local authorities and military experts hypothesize that the munitions were left behind by the Pakistan Army during the 1971 Liberation War.
Local residents and veterans believe the mines were buried as the Pakistani forces retreated toward Kushtia. According to Mashiur Rahman, a former local headmaster, the Pakistani military maintained a camp at the nearby Bangari field, situated approximately 10 kilometers from Betbaria. During fierce fighting in November 1971, Pakistani troops were forced to abandon their positions after sustaining pressure from freedom fighters.
Veteran freedom fighter Golam Mostafa, who participated in the Battle of Bangari, stated that the retreating Pakistani forces moved through Betbaria with their equipment and vehicles while fleeing toward Kushtia. Historical accounts suggest the explosives were abandoned in haste as the troops attempted to navigate the route toward Kushtia Sadar, where they faced further tactical strikes from liberation forces.
Police officials noted the volatile nature of the discovered munitions, explaining that anti-personnel mines are triggered by a weight of 64 kilograms, while anti-tank mines require significantly higher pressure. The event has caused widespread concern in the region, drawing significant attention to the lingering dangers posed by wartime munitions left underground for over five decades.
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