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{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Dakra massacre<br/>ডাকরা গণহত্যা
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| map = {{Location map|Bangladesh|lat=22.55|long=89.69|caption=}}
| map_caption =
| location = Dakra, Khulna, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
| target = [[Bengali Hindus]]
| coordinates =
| date = 21 May 1971
| time =
| timezone = UTC+6:00
| type = [[Massacre]]
| fatalities = More than 2,000
| injuries =
| perps = [[East Pakistan Central Peace Committee|Peace Committee]], [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]]
| weapons = Rifles
| numparts =
}}

'''Dakra massacre''' ({{lang-bn|ডাকরা গণহত্যা}}) refers to the massacre of unarmed Hindu refugees at the village of Dakra, in the Bagerhat sub-division of Khulna District on 21 May 1971 by the [[East Pakistan Central Peace Committee|Peace Committee]] members and the [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]]. The attackers were led by Rajab Ali Fakir, the chairman of the Bagerhat sub-divisional Peace Committee.<ref name="dj22052010">{{cite news |script-title=bn:বাগেরহাটে ডাকরা গণহত্যা দিবস পালন |url=http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/news_view.php?nc=14&dd=2010-05-22&ni=18952 |newspaper=Daily Janakantha |location=Dhaka |date=22 May 2010 |language=bn |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref> More than 2,000 Hindu men, women and children were killed in the massacre.<ref name="dd21052012">{{cite news |script-title=bn:আজ বাগেরহাটের ডাকরা গণহত্যা দিবস |url=http://www.dainikdestiny.com/index.php?view=details&type=main&cat_id=1&menu_id=65&pub_no=247&news_type_id=1&index=33&archiev=yes&arch_date=21-05-2012 |newspaper=Dainik Destiny |location=Dhaka |date=21 May 2012 |language=bn |access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

== Background ==
The village of Dakra is located in Perikhali Union under [[Rampal Upazila]] of [[Bagerhat District]] in [[Khulna Division]] of [[Bangladesh]]. In 1971, Bagerhat District was a sub-division within the Khulna District. Dakra is located on the south bank of the Mongla river, which flows towards the west and falls into the [[Pasur River|Pasur river]] near [[Port of Mongla|Mongla port]]. On the north bank of Mongla river, exactly opposite Dakra, lies the Krishnaganj market under Banshtali Union. Dakra was a predominantly Hindu village, having a famous Kali temple. In Dakra lived Badal Chakraborty also known as Noa Thakur, a spiritual person respected by all.

After the launch of [[Operation Searchlight]], [[East Pakistan Central Peace Committee|Peace Committee]] and [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakar]] force was organized in [[Khulna]]. In April, the Razakars began to persecute the Hindus and loot their properties. By the middle of May, thousands of Hindus from [[Pirojpur District|Pirojpur]], [[Jhalokati District|Jhalokathi]], [[Barguna District|Barguna]] and [[Barisal District|Barisal Sadar]] sub-divisions of undivided Barisal district and [[Bagerhat District|Bagerhat sub-division]] of undivided Khulna district began to use Dakra as the transit, while fleeing to [[India]]. On 21 May, an estimated 10,000 Hindu refugees were stranded in Dakra.<ref name="fns20052012">{{cite news |script-title=bn:২১ মে বাগেরহাটের ডাকরা গণহত্যা দিবস |author=S. M. Zakaria Mahmud |url=http://fairnews24.com/details.php?q=news&id=27161 |newspaper=Fairnews24.com |location=Dhaka |date=20 May 2012 |language=bn |access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

== Killings ==
In the afternoon, a group of 20 to 25 Razakars under the leadership of Rajab Ali Fakir arrived in Dakra in two boats.<ref name="dak26052013">{{cite news |script-title=bn:বাগেরহাটের ডাকরায় গণহত্যা : ৪২ বছর পর স্মৃতিসৌধ নির্মাণ হচ্ছে |url=http://www.ajkalerkhobor.com/2013/05/26/99710.html |work=Dainik Ajkaler Khobor |location=Dhaka |language=bn |date=26 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131025182935/http://www.ajkalerkhobor.com/2013/05/26/99710.html |archive-date=25 October 2013 |access-date=24 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first boat crossed the Kaliganj market and proceeded towards Madartali canal. The second boat proceeded along the Kumarkhali canal and then made a sudden turn towards Dakra along the Madartali canal. The Razakars from the second boat got down and started firing at the crowd. In the meanwhile, the Razakars from the first boat too got down and proceeded to the Kali temple, firing indiscriminately at the crowd. The crowd started running for cover. Many jumped to the river and were shot at. More than 150 persons were shot in the river.<ref name="dak26052013"/> The Razakars resorts to loot, arson and rape in the villages. The beautiful women were taken captives for sexual slavery.<ref name="dak26052013"/>

== Prosecution ==
The Government of Bangladesh brought war crime charges against Jamaat-e-Islami leader [[AKM Yusuf]] at the International Crimes Tribunal.<ref name="bbc12052013">{{cite news |last=Hossain |first=Ahrar |date=12 May 2013 |script-title=bn:জামায়াতের নায়েবে আমির এ কে এম ইউসুফ আটক |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bengali/news/2013/05/130512_mrk_jamat_yusuf_arrest.shtml |work=BBC Bangla |language=bn |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="pa03052013">{{cite news |script-title=bn:ইউসুফের বিরুদ্ধে গণহত্যার সাতটিসহ ১৫ অভিযোগ |url=http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/673/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%87_%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A3%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0_%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B9_%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%AB_%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%97 |work=Prothom Alo |location=Dhaka |language=bn |date=3 May 2013 |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref> Yusuf has been charged with genocide of the [[Bengali Hindus|Bengali Hindu people]] and has been held directly responsible for the Dakra massacre.<ref name="pa03052013"/>

== Memorial ==
No memorial has been built in Dakra to commemorate the victims.<ref name="kn21052011">{{cite news |last=Sardar |first=Babul |date=21 May 2011 |script-title=bn:বাগেরহাটে ডাকরা গণহত্যা দিবস পালিত |url=http://www.khulnanews.com/divisional-news/bagerhat/5167-2011-05-21-13-07-48 |newspaper=KhulnaNews.com |language=bn |access-date=25 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031405/http://www.khulnanews.com/divisional-news/bagerhat/5167-2011-05-21-13-07-48 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2010, Dakra Ganahatya Smriti Sangrakshan Parishad held a program to commemorate the victims of the Dakra massacre.<ref name="dj22052010"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{1971 Bangladesh genocide|state=expanded}}

{{coord|22.546|89.698|region:BD_type:event|display=title}}

[[Category:1971 Bangladesh genocide]]
[[Category:Massacres in 1971]]
[[Category:1971 in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1971 in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Massacres of Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:Massacres committed by Pakistan in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:May 1971 events in Asia]]

Dakra massacre - Revision history

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