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{{Short description| | {{Short description|Massacre of Bengali Hindus during the Bangladesh Liberation War}} | ||
{{Infobox civilian attack | {{Infobox civilian attack | ||
| title = Demra massacre<br/>ডেমরা গণহত্যা | | title = Demra massacre<br/>ডেমরা গণহত্যা | ||
| partof = [[Bangladesh genocide]] | |||
| image = | | image = | ||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| Line 16: | Line 17: | ||
| fatalities = 800–900 | | fatalities = 800–900 | ||
| injuries = | | injuries = | ||
| perps = [[Pakistani Army]] | | perps = [[Pakistani Army]]<br/>[[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]] | ||
| weapons = Light machine guns | | weapons = Light machine guns | ||
| numparts = | | numparts = | ||
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{{Campaignbox Bangladesh Liberation War}} | {{Campaignbox Bangladesh Liberation War}} | ||
'''Demra massacre''' ({{ | '''Demra massacre''' ({{langx|bn|ডেমরা গণহত্যা}}) in [[Bangladesh]] was the massacre of unarmed [[Bengali Hindus|Hindu]] residents of the villages under Demra Union in present-day [[Faridpur Upazila]] in [[Pabna District]] by the [[Pakistan Army]] aided by local collaborators on 13 May 1971. It is estimated that 800–900 people were killed in a single day.<ref name=Banglapedia>{{Cite Banglapedia|article=Faridpur Upazila}}</ref><ref name="tds07112010"/> Rape and plunder were also carried out and temples, schools and houses were set on fire.<ref name=Banglapedia/> | ||
| | |||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
When the Pakistani | When the Pakistani army spread out from [[Dhaka]] towards the districts as a part of the [[Operation Searchlight]], the people began to flee their homes. The Hindus began to flee [[Bangladesh]] and take refuge in neighbouring [[India]]. On their way, they had taken shelter in the remote village of Baushgari in Demra union.<ref name="tds07112010">{{cite news |title=Nizami the man behind Pabna mass murders |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=161553 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=November 7, 2010 |access-date=May 24, 2012 |archive-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401133726/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=161553 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
== Events == | == Events == | ||
The Pakistani | The Pakistani army led by the local collaborators entered the area through the Boral river and then cordoned off the Baushgari and Rupsi villages.<ref>{{cite news |title=Demra massacre day today |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=88052 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=May 13, 2009 |access-date=May 23, 2012 |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725100042/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=88052 |url-status=dead }}</ref> One collaborator named Asad led the Pakistani troops to the Baushgari village. In the nightfall, the men were dragged out of their houses and made to stand in a line while the women were raped in front of them by the Pakistani troops with the help of the collaborators. After that, both the men and women were shot to death and their houses were set on fire. A few survivors interred the charred remains of the bodies in a mass grave the next morning.<ref>{{cite news |title=Martyrs Without Names |author=Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/starinsight/2012/01/02/journey.htm |newspaper=Star Insight |date=January 28, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725111950/http://archive.thedailystar.net/starinsight/2012/01/02/journey.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Around 350 Hindus were killed in Baushgari village.<ref name="tds07112010"/> | ||
== Investigation == | == Investigation == | ||
An 11-member team from the International Crimes Tribunal investigated the Demra massacre in 2010. The team was led by Sayed Rejaur Rahman, one of the prosecutors of the tribunal.<ref name="tds07112010"/> The investigators visited the killing spots in Baushgari village and interviewed the witnesses to the war crimes.<ref name="tds07112010"/> In their investigation they found [[Motiur Rahman Nizami]] guilty of masterminding the massacre.<ref name="tds07112010"/> Nizami was convicted and [[Capital punishment|executed]] by [[hanging]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/104261/Nizami-executed|title=Nizami executed|newspaper=[[Prothom Alo]]|access-date=10 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511133902/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/104261/Nizami-executed|archive-date=11 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | An 11-member team from the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)|International Crimes Tribunal]] investigated the Demra massacre in 2010. The team was led by Sayed Rejaur Rahman, one of the prosecutors of the tribunal.<ref name="tds07112010"/> The investigators visited the killing spots in Baushgari village and interviewed the witnesses to the war crimes.<ref name="tds07112010"/> In their investigation, they found [[Motiur Rahman Nizami]] guilty of masterminding the massacre.<ref name="tds07112010"/> Nizami was convicted and [[Capital punishment|executed]] by [[hanging]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/104261/Nizami-executed|title=Nizami executed|newspaper=[[Prothom Alo]]|access-date=10 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511133902/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/104261/Nizami-executed|archive-date=11 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
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{{1971 Bangladesh genocide|state=expanded}} | {{1971 Bangladesh genocide|state=expanded}} | ||
[[Category:1971 in Bangladesh]] | [[Category:May 1971 in Bangladesh]] | ||
[[Category:Massacres in 1971]] | [[Category:Massacres in 1971]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Bangladesh genocide]] | ||
[[Category:Massacres of Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan]] | [[Category:Massacres of Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan]] | ||
[[Category:Massacres committed by Pakistan in East Pakistan]] | [[Category:Massacres committed by Pakistan in East Pakistan]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1971 mass shootings in Asia]] | ||
[[Category:Mass shootings in Bangladesh]] | |||
[[Category:Sexual violence in the Bangladesh Liberation War]] | |||
[[Category:Gang rape in Bangladesh]] | |||
[[Category:Pabna District]] | |||
[[Category:Looting in Bangladesh]] | |||
[[Category:Attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh]] | |||
[[Category:Attacks on schools in Bangladesh]] | |||
[[Category:School arson fires in Asia]] | |||
[[Category:Hindu temple arson]] | |||
[[Category:Residential building arson attacks in Bangladesh]] | |||
[[Category:Arson in 1971]] | |||
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1971]] | |||
[[Category:Attacks on schools in the 1970s]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:25, 11 January 2026
| Demra massacre ডেমরা গণহত্যা | |
|---|---|
| Part of Bangladesh genocide | |
  | |
| Location | Demra, Pabna, East Pakistan |
| Date | 13 May 1971 (UTC+6:00) |
| Target | Bengali Hindus |
Attack type | Mass murder, mass rape |
| Weapons | Light machine guns |
| Deaths | 800–900 |
| Perpetrators | Pakistani Army Razakars |
Demra massacre (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) in Bangladesh was the massacre of unarmed Hindu residents of the villages under Demra Union in present-day Faridpur Upazila in Pabna District by the Pakistan Army aided by local collaborators on 13 May 1971. It is estimated that 800–900 people were killed in a single day.[1][2] Rape and plunder were also carried out and temples, schools and houses were set on fire.[1]
Background[edit | edit source]
When the Pakistani army spread out from Dhaka towards the districts as a part of the Operation Searchlight, the people began to flee their homes. The Hindus began to flee Bangladesh and take refuge in neighbouring India. On their way, they had taken shelter in the remote village of Baushgari in Demra union.[2]
Events[edit | edit source]
The Pakistani army led by the local collaborators entered the area through the Boral river and then cordoned off the Baushgari and Rupsi villages.[3] One collaborator named Asad led the Pakistani troops to the Baushgari village. In the nightfall, the men were dragged out of their houses and made to stand in a line while the women were raped in front of them by the Pakistani troops with the help of the collaborators. After that, both the men and women were shot to death and their houses were set on fire. A few survivors interred the charred remains of the bodies in a mass grave the next morning.[4] Around 350 Hindus were killed in Baushgari village.[2]
Investigation[edit | edit source]
An 11-member team from the International Crimes Tribunal investigated the Demra massacre in 2010. The team was led by Sayed Rejaur Rahman, one of the prosecutors of the tribunal.[2] The investigators visited the killing spots in Baushgari village and interviewed the witnesses to the war crimes.[2] In their investigation, they found Motiur Rahman Nizami guilty of masterminding the massacre.[2] Nizami was convicted and executed by hanging in 2016.[5]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Faridpur Upazila". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Nizami the man behind Pabna mass murders". The Daily Star. November 7, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Demra massacre day today". The Daily Star. May 13, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ↑ Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu (January 28, 2012). "Martyrs Without Names". Star Insight. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ↑ "Nizami executed". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.