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{{Short description|1971 mass killings in East Pakistan}}
{{Use Bangladeshi English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Sohagpur Massacre
| location = Sohagpur, [[Nalitabari Upazila|Nalitabari]], [[Sherpur District|Sherpur]], [[Bangladesh]]
| date = 10 [[Srabon]], 1378 [[Bengali calendars|BS]] (25 July, 1971)
| partof = [[1971 Bangladesh genocide]]
| map = {{Location map|Bangladesh|alt= Location of Sohagpur|lat_deg = 25.1228673|lon_deg = 90.2602678}}
| subheader = Bidhabapalli Massacre
| native_name = সোহাগপুর গণহত্যা
| native_name_lang = bn
| coordinates = {{Coord|25.1228673|N|90.2602678|E|region:BY_type:village|display=inline,title}}
| time-begin = 07:00
| time-end = 09:00
| timezone = UTC+6
| target = [[Bengalis|Bengali]] and [[Garo people|Garo]] people
| type = [[Massacre]]
| fatalities = 187
| perps = [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al-Badr]]<br>[[Razakar (Pakistan)|Razakar]]<br>[[Pakistan Army]]
| numparts = 150+
| dfens =
| motive = To eradicate the [[Mukti Bahini|freedom fighters]]
}}

The '''Sohagpur massacre''' was a [[mass killing]] of 187 civilians on 25 July 1971 in the [[Mymensingh Division|Mymensingh District]] of [[East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]) during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Liberation War]]. The massacre was perpetrated by the [[Pakistan Army]] and [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al-Badr]], a paramilitary force opposing Bangladeshi independence. Following the massacre, Sohagpur became known as the "village of widows."<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2013 |title=Bangladesh's Kamaruzzaman sentenced to death |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-22461129 |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516122501/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-22461129 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://theindependentbd.com/arcprint/details/73658/2016-12-24|title=A tale of Liberation War|author=Muhammad Anisur Rahman Akanda|date=24 December 2016|access-date=9 July 2022|newspaper=[[The Independent (Bangladesh)|The Independent]]|archive-date=9 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709112331/https://theindependentbd.com/arcprint/details/73658/2016-12-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Background==
After the outbreak of the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in [[East Pakistan]] in 1971, [[Sherpur District]] became a strategically important region due to its location near the border of the [[Garo Hills]], [[Meghalaya]], India. [[Pakistan Army]] and [[Mukti Bahini]] wrestled for control over the region till the end of the conflict.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/silalipi/2018/04/27/629653|title=বই আলোচনা: শেরপুরের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের বীরত্বগাথা|trans-title=Book Discussion: The heroic story of the liberation war of Sherpur|lang=bn|date=27 April 2018|newspaper=[[Kaler Kantho]]|access-date=7 July 2022|first=Arafat|last=Shahriar|archive-date=9 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509192006/http://kalerkantho.com/print-edition/silalipi/2018/04/27/629653|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sohagpur is a village located 36 km from Sherpur town.<ref name=village>{{cite web|url=https://www.jagonews24.com/m/country/news/238873|title=রাতের আঁধারে মরদেহ মই দিয়ে টেনে গণকবর দিয়েছি|trans-title=In the darkness of the night, I dragged the body with a ladder and buried it in a mass grave|lang=bn|date=25 March 2017|website=[[Jago News 24]]|access-date=9 July 2022|archive-date=9 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709195518/https://www.jagonews24.com/m/country/news/238873|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the witness statement of Arshed Ali, the son of one of the victims of the massacres in the Sherpur area, Pakistan Army killed 245 civilians in the villages of Sohagpur, Benupara and Kakorkandi on 25 July, 1971. The army was aided by local collaborators [[Muhammad Kamaruzzaman]], Chairman Fassi, Nazir Master, Doctor Kader, Bollu Boka Bura and Nasa.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 October 2012 |title=শেরপুর এলাকার স্বাধীনতাবিরোধীদের প্রধান ছিলেন কামারুজ্জামান |trans-title=Kamaruzzaman was the head of the anti-independence movement in Sherpur area |url=https://www.banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/142389.details |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709195523/https://www.banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/142389.details |archive-date=9 July 2022 |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=[[Banglanews24.com]] |lang=bn}}</ref><ref name="case">{{cite web |date=6 March 2013 |title=কামারুজ্জামানের পক্ষে সাফাই সাক্ষ্য শুরু |trans-title=Testimony began on behalf of Kamaruzzaman |url=https://www.banglanews24.com/print/179359 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220540/https://www.banglanews24.com/print/179359 |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=[[Banglanews24.com]] |lang=bn}}</ref> Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was later convicted of multiple counts of [[crimes against humanity]] including the Sohagpur massacre, and was sentenced to death in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 April 2015 |title=Nightmare of Sohagpur hanged |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/security-beefed-around-dhaka-jail-76825 |url-status=live |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314190114/https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/security-beefed-around-dhaka-jail-76825 |archive-date=14 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite news |date=9 May 2013 |title=Kamaruzzaman: The Charges |newspaper=bdnews24.com |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/05/09/kamaruzzaman-the-charges}}</ref>

According to one local account, the attack was prompted by Doctor Kader, the village doctor who became influential during the war through his collaboration with the Pakistan army. He started extorting the villagers and the refugees making their way to the border through the village. One day the hut where he kept his plunder was broken into. An infuriated Kader headed to the Pakistan army camp and convinced them that the village housed a camp for Mukti Bahini and the army must take action against it.<ref name="afsan">{{cite web|url=https://opinion.bdnews24.com/bangla/archives/5776|title=ভরা শ্রাবণে মনে পড়ে সোহাগপুরের গণহত্যার কথা|trans-title=Remembering the massacre at Sohagpur in Srabon|lang=bn|date=28 July 2012|first=Afsan|last=Chowdhury|website=[[Bdnews24.com]]|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=9 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009043511/http://opinion.bdnews24.com/bangla/archives/5776|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Massacre==
On the morning of 25 July 1971, [[Muhammad Kamaruzzaman]] of the [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al-Badr]] and Doctor Kader, of the [[Razakar (Pakistan)|Razakar]], led Pakistan Army to the village. At the time of the massacre, there was no Mukti Bahini presence in the village of Sohagpur; the nearest position was in Baruajani, another village near Sohagpur, but the army was led to believe (by Kader) that Sohagpur was a stronghold of the Mukti Bahini. A 150-strong army surrounded the village from three sides at 7am ([[UTC+06:00|UTC+6]]) when most of the male villagers were busy tending to the Amon (rice) crop in the fields. The army opened fire on the villagers and by 9 am had killed more than 150 villagers. The soldiers continued their search for Mukti Bahini soldiers for another twelve hours, during which they dragged any male villager taking refuge in their homes and shot or bayonetted them to death in front of their families.<ref name="afsan" /><ref name="risingbd">{{cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Shakil |date=24 July 2013 |title=সোহাগপুর গণহত্যা দিবস |trans-title=Sohagpur Genocide Day |url=https://www.risingbd.com/fascinating-world/news/8814 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220541/https://www.risingbd.com/fascinating-world/news/8814 |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=[[Risingbd.com]] |lang=bn}}</ref><ref name="kafir">{{cite news |date=25 July 2021 |title=আজ শেরপুরের সোহাগপুর গণহত্যা দিবস |trans-title=Today is Sohagpur Genocide Day in Sherpur |newspaper=[[Jaijaidin]] |url=https://www.jaijaidinbd.com/wholecountry/184416 |url-status=live |access-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220542/https://www.jaijaidinbd.com/wholecountry/184416 |archive-date=8 July 2022}}</ref> Two people from the village protested against the Pakistan Army and were shot dead. Among the minority [[Garo people]], who are Indigenous in the region, three peasants working in the fields were killed. Thirteen women of the village were physically assaulted as well.<ref name=jk>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/bangladesh/news/589445|title=শেরপুরে সোহাগপুর গণহত্যা দিবস আজ|trans-title=Today is Sohagpur Genocide Day in Sherpur|lang=bn|date=25 July 2021|newspaper=[[Janakantha]]|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220545/https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/bangladesh/news/589445|url-status=live}}</ref>

The survivors of the village fled to India.<ref name="afsan" /> The survivors returned after the Pakistan Army withdrew from the village. No men survived the genocide.<ref name="risingbd" /> Razakars and Al-Badr forces then declared those killed in the massacre "''[[Kafir]]''" (infidels) and prevented the burial of their bodies. Many of their corpses were eaten by wild animals. However, some people were able to bury the bodies of their relatives.<ref name="kafir" /> Jalal Uddin, the president of the village organization named Martyr family welfare association and the son of a victim of the massacre, was 14 years old at the time of the massacre.<ref name=dw/><ref name=village/> Fifty years after the massacre, in an interview with the ''[[Dhaka Post]]'', the survivor said:
{{blockquote|text=
{{lang|bn|সে সময়ের নির্মমতা ও ভয়াবহতার কথা বলতে গেলে আমার শরীরের লোমগুলো দাঁড়িয়ে যায়। পাকবাহিনী এলাকায় প্রবেশ করে অনবরত গুলি করতে থাকে। তারা আমাদের বাড়িতে এসে বাবা, ভাইসহ সকলকে হত্যা করে। আমি দৌড়ে ঘরের মাচার মধ্যে লুকিয়ে নিজেকে রক্ষা করি। সোহাগপুরের কোনো পুরুষ বেঁচে ছিল না, আমি ছাড়া। তাই আমাকেই লাশগুলো একত্র করে মাটি চাপা দিতে হয়েছে। জানাজা করার মতো লোক ছিল না।}}
Speaking of the brutality and horror of that time, it gives me a scary feeling in my body. The Pakistan Army entered the area and started firing incessantly. They came to our house and killed everyone, including my father and brother. I ran and hid in the scaffolding of the house to save myself. There was no man left in Sohagpur except me, so I had to collect the corpses and bury them. There was no one to perform the funeral.
|multiline=yes
|author=Jalal Uddin
|source=in an interview with the ''Dhaka Post''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dhakapost.com/country/48863|title=এই দিনে ১৮৭ পুরুষকে একসঙ্গে হত্যা করে পাকবাহিনী|trans-title=On this day 187 men were killed together by the Pak army|lang=bn|date=25 July 2021|author=Jahidul Khan Sourov|website=[[Dhaka Post]]|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220548/https://www.dhakapost.com/country/48863|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

== Aftermath ==
After the [[independence of Bangladesh]], Sohagpur was renamed to Bidhbapara. Later, the name was changed to Bidhabapalli ({{lit|the village of widows}}).<ref name=grave>{{cite news|url=https://www.jaijaidinbd.com/wholecountry/132738/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%AA%E0%A7%AF-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4|title=স্বাধীনতার ৪৯ বছরেও মুক্তিযুদ্ধের স্মৃতিচিহ্ন গুলো অরক্ষিত|trans-title=Even in the 49 years of independence, the relics of the liberation war are unprotected|lang=bn|author=Topu Sarkar Harun|date=31 December 2020|newspaper=[[Jaijaidin]]|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220543/https://www.jaijaidinbd.com/wholecountry/132738/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%AA%E0%A7%AF-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, [[Matia Chowdhury]] became an [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|MP]] in the constituency [[Sherpur-2]]. After being elected as an MP, she told the story of the widows of the village. Five years later, the [[Awami League]]-led government began to aid the village's widows in various ways.<ref name=jk/> The [[Caretaker government of Bangladesh|caretaker government]] later ran a mushroom and agricultural project to help widows, which is currently closed.<ref name=risingbd/> Widows' allowances are paid from [[BRAC Bank]] and [[Trust Bank Limited (Bangladesh)|Trust Bank]]. However, ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'' reported in 2015 that the condition of the ones affected had not improved. The president of the village organization said that no one in the village could be educated.<ref name=dw>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/bn/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%81%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0/a-18421027|title=বিধবা পল্লী: এখনো কাটেনি আঁধার|trans-title=Widow Village: The darkness is not over yet|lang=bn|author=Harun Ur Rashid Swapan|date=1 May 2015|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526064955/https://www.dw.com/bn/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%81%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0/a-18421027|url-status=live}}</ref> According to report of ''[[Janakantha]]'' in 2021, land and houses have been given as gifts to the affected widows by the government.<ref name=jk/>

In 2010s, many responsible for the massacre had still not been prosecuted. In 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/uncategorized/2014/11/03/witnesses-from-sohagpur-happy|title=Witnesses from Sohagpur happy|author=Ashif Islam Shaon|date=9 July 2022|website=[[Dhaka Tribune]]|access-date=9 July 2022|archive-date=9 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709112332/https://archive.dhakatribune.com/uncategorized/2014/11/03/witnesses-from-sohagpur-happy|url-status=live}}</ref> the Bangladesh government had filed a case against [[Muhammad Kamaruzzaman]] at the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)|International Criminal Tribunal]], accusing him of seven counts, including the attack on the village. The court sentenced Kamaruzzaman to death on 9 May 2013; he was executed on 11 April 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%81%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0|title=কামারুজ্জামানের ফাঁসি কার্যকর|trans-title=Kamaruzzaman's execution is done|lang=bn|date=12 April 2015|newspaper=[[Prothom Alo]]|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220551/https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5384738084769901&output=html&h=90&slotname=7363369028&adk=3499102878&adf=776186316&pi=t.ma~as.7363369028&w=728&psa=0&format=728x90&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.prothomalo.com%2Fworld%2F%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2596%25E0%25A7%258B-%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A6%25A3%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25A0%25E0%25A7%2587-%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2587%25E0%25A6%2595-%25E0%25A6%2586%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B9%25E0%25A7%2581%25E0%25A6%25AE%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AE%25E0%25A6%25BE-%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2587%25E0%25A6%2595&ea=0&wgl=1&dt=1657317948928&bpp=3&bdt=1389&idt=2805&shv=r20220630&mjsv=m202206300101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&cookie=ID%3D9b38c82b850a2832-220285e21cd40022%3AT%3D1657317945%3ART%3D1657317949%3AS%3DALNI_Ma-RzwA_tb9ltJPVGUkTXJKF71Urw&gpic=UID%3D000006e151e5beba%3AT%3D1657317945%3ART%3D1657317945%3AS%3DALNI_MawtXQcXs1IUzpl2Aa-_hzHbXlSkQ&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=1&correlator=7006164734816&frm=23&ife=4&pv=1&ga_vid=14444610.1657317952&ga_sid=1657317952&ga_hid=1041252986&ga_fc=0&nhd=1&u_tz=0&u_his=50&u_h=1000&u_w=1600&u_ah=1000&u_aw=1600&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&dmc=8&adx=213&ady=17319&biw=1153&bih=18929&isw=728&ish=90&ifk=1643848516&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759842%2C31065545%2C42531605%2C42531607&oid=2&pvsid=1766729447475290&tmod=1699968477&uas=0&nvt=1&eae=2&fc=1664&brdim=10%2C10%2C10%2C10%2C1600%2C0%2C1100%2C900%2C728%2C90&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CeE%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=1028&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=2.6v8afvti17hx&fsb=1&dtd=2824|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Kamaruzzaman's son Hassan Iqbal pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying his father was not in the village at the time of the murder and that his father had been deliberately implicated.<ref name=son>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/bn/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%85%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2/a-18051528|title=কামারুজ্জামানের ছেলে ‘পাগলের প্রলাপ' বকছেন: অ্যাটর্নি জেনারেল|trans-title=Kamaruzzaman's son speaks of 'crazy delirium': Attorney General|lang=bn|date=10 November 2014|author=Harun Ur Rashid Swapan|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526142121/https://www.dw.com/bn/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%85%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2/a-18051528|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Kamaruzzaman's brother had asked Arshed Ali to testify on behalf of him. Ali testified for the International Crimes Tribunal on 2 March 2013. He denied Kamruzzaman's accusation and said that Kamruzzaman was not responsible for the massacre. He claimed that only Chairman Fassi, Nazir Master, Kadir and Nasa Gang were responsible for the massacre.<ref name=case/> [[Human Rights Watch]] called the trial of Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal "flawed" and said the trial was not impartial and there was no opportunity to appeal the verdict.<ref name=son/>

In 2016, the [[government of Bangladesh]] recognized six widows of the village as [[Mukti Bahini]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE|title=মুক্তিযোদ্ধার স্বীকৃতি চান সোহাগপুরের বিধবারা|trans-title=The widows of Sohagpur want recognition of freedom fighters|lang=bn|date=18 December 2017|newspaper=[[Prothom Alo]]|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220552/https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5384738084769901&output=html&h=90&slotname=7363369028&adk=3499102878&adf=776189480&pi=t.ma~as.7363369028&w=728&psa=1&format=728x90&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.prothomalo.com%2Fbangladesh%2F%25E0%25A6%25B8%25E0%25A6%2582%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A6%259F%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B0-%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A6%25A3-%25E0%25A6%2586%25E0%25A6%25AE%25E0%25A6%25A6%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AD%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A6%25A4%25E0%25A6%25BE&ea=0&wgl=1&dt=1657317950796&bpp=4&bdt=1091&idt=1743&shv=r20220630&mjsv=m202207070101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&cookie=ID%3D25d78063d90df547-2241c0ad18d40099%3AT%3D1657317947%3ART%3D1657317950%3AS%3DALNI_MbGP6damCOgNCBwZLeIGL3kxN6dIg&gpic=UID%3D000006e15157f019%3AT%3D1657317947%3ART%3D1657317947%3AS%3DALNI_MZ1wG-CsKE0pmBVtEW7QPtNJcm--Q&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=1&correlator=1652118698594&frm=23&ife=4&pv=1&ga_vid=1416323477.1657317952&ga_sid=1657317952&ga_hid=249814906&ga_fc=0&nhd=1&u_tz=0&u_his=50&u_h=1000&u_w=1600&u_ah=1000&u_aw=1600&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&dmc=8&adx=235&ady=17343&biw=1198&bih=8639&isw=728&ish=90&ifk=1299139087&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759842%2C31068195%2C31068348%2C44764001%2C31065825&oid=2&pvsid=4099101907831120&tmod=1223676095&uas=0&nvt=1&eae=2&fc=1664&brdim=10%2C10%2C10%2C10%2C1600%2C0%2C1100%2C900%2C728%2C90&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=1028&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=2.6ky82zliidyr&btvi=2&fsb=1&dtd=1755|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, the village was renamed to Birakanya Palli ({{lit|Village of heroic daughters}}) by the Sector Commander Forum’s leaders at a program in the village.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.banglatribune.com/country/75339/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%A8-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80%E2%80%99|title=সোহাগপুর বিধবাপল্লী এখন ‘বীরকন্যা পল্লী’|trans-title=Sohagpur Widow Palli is now 'Birakanya Palli'|lang=bn|date=5 February 2016|website=[[Bangla Tribune]]|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220548/https://www.facebook.com/v12.0/plugins/video.php?app_id=436163869915872&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df4a54cfd6ac84%26domain%3Dwww.banglatribune.com%26is_canvas%3Dfalse%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.banglatribune.com%252Ff1ca61f71d32cc%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=0&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbanglatribunenews%2Fvideos%2F1014153172619153%2F&locale=en_GB&sdk=joey&show_text=false&width=436|url-status=live}}</ref> On 19 February 2022, a memorial called ''Saurjaya'' was erected in the village to commemorate the Sohagpur massacre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.channel24bd.tv/countries/article/92487/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%AB%E0%A7%A6-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%A7-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99|title=বিজয়ের ৫০ বছর পর বিধবাপল্লীতে নির্মিত হলো স্মৃতিসৌধ ‘সৌরজায়া’|trans-title=50 years after the victory, a memorial 'Saurjaya' was built in the widow's village|lang=bn|date=19 February 2022|website=Channel24bd.com|publisher=[[Channel 24 (Bangladeshi TV channel)|Channel 24]]|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708220544/https://www.channel24bd.tv/countries/article/92487/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%AB%E0%A7%A6-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%A7-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=সোহাগপুরের বিধবা কন্যারা – ১৯৭১|trans-title=Widowed daughters of Sohagpur – 1971|author=Mamun Ur Rashid|lang=bn|year=2012|publisher=Sworbritto Prokashon|url=https://fliphtml5.com/lzrut/lasp}}

{{Bangladesh Liberation War}}
{{Sherpur District}}

[[Category:1971 in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1971 in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 1971]]
[[Category:Massacres in 1971]]
[[Category:Sherpur District]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1971 Bangladesh genocide]]
[[Category:July 1971 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Massacres of ethnic groups]]
[[Category:1971 murders in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Massacres committed by Pakistan in East Pakistan]]

Sohagpur massacre - Revision history

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