Kushtia Correspondent :
Khodeza Khatun, 85, wife of martyred freedom fighter Abdur Raich, made frantic search for her husband before her death. Her husband remained missing since Pakistani troops caught him. The woman waited for her husband hoping that he will return one day. She would have rushed towards the door hearing any sound. After failing to find him, she would have cried loudly. Her family was denied the status of Shaheed family for the last 43 years.
The woman, who is a witness of history, left the earth forever on August 22 this year with unbearable memory
Rajakars and members of Al-Badar being allied with invading troops oppressed people when Pakistani Bahini unleashed a reign of terror across the country on April 8, 1971.
Pakistani troops suddenly attacked Bijnagar village on Mujibnagar-Meherpur road in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia district on the morning of April 8, 1971 when housewives of the village were busy in cooking their foods. Being attacked, the villagers ran here and there for their safety.
The invading force first swooped on Mia Para of the village where 20/25 families used to reside there at that time. The troops caught elderly people and brought them in front of a house of the western side of a mosque. About 15 to 20 people, including Cheny Mia (Mir Abdur Raich), Jharu Mia (Mir Amzad Hossain) and Shahjahan Mia were among those caught by the troops.
Mohammad Delwar Hossain, father of popular Lalon singer Farida Parvin, was also among the victims. Delwar first hoisted our national flag on the char of the Gorai River. Recently, he passed away and he was also denied the status of the flag hoisting before his demise.
Several freedom fighters of the locality especially Mir Sadruzzaman (Lal), Mustaque, brother-in-law of the Imam of the mosque of the village, and Abdur Rahim of Mondol Para disappeared at a night the previous day. The three freedom fighters, who returned after the independence, described stories of joining the independence war.
The invading troops continued their barbarity at the village before the Johr prayers. Though no remarkable damage was done to the village, they caught Cheny Mia (Mir Abdur Raich). Khodeza waited when her husband will return. She used to cry time and again. Of her six children, her only daughter Shiri Khatun was married at that time.
