Independence Day Special

During the Liberation War of 1971, Cox’s Bazar witnessed its chapter of bloodshed and sacrifice. The Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators executed countless brave sons of this land. Yet, with time, many of their names have faded into obscurity. This special report highlights some of Cox’s Bazar’s forgotten martyrs.

Shot Dead for Freedom: The Tragic End of Mohammad Sharif

April 30, 1971. Mohammad Sharif had returned to his home in Kalarmarchhara, unaware that it would be his final homecoming. Acting on the orders of the then-officer-in-charge of Maheshkhali Police Station, Pakistani soldiers—assisted by local collaborators—stormed his house and shot him dead. His final resting place lies in the Gol Dighi Par Cemetery in Cox’s Bazar.

Tortured, Stuffed in a Sack: The Fate of Chakaria’s Abdul Hamid

Abdul Hamid, a former president of Chittagong Commerce College’s Chhatra League and a guerrilla commander of Chakaria’s first resistance unit, was among those who underwent horrific persecution. Trained in India, he fought valiantly against the enemy until he was captured. He was brutally tortured and later executed at the base of Naithang Hill in Teknaf. After the war, his decomposed body was found stuffed in a sack. His family buried him at Shah Omar (R.) Mausoleum Cemetery in Chakaria.

Betrayed by Traitors: The Execution of Farhad

Farhad, a bright student of Chittagong University, came to Cox’s Bazar to support the Liberation War. However, he fell into a trap laid by pro-independence pretenders who handed him over to the Pakistani army. He endured severe torture before being executed by gunfire near the Bankkhali River. His eternal resting place is in Badar Mokam Cemetery.

Missing Forever: The Unresolved Case of Martyred Subhash

Among those captured alongside Farhad was student leader Subhash. His fate was equally tragic. The Pakistani army executed him, but his body was never recovered. Even after 50 years of independence, his family still seeks closure, as the whereabouts of his remains remain unknown.

Eminent Lawyer Jnanendra Chowdhury Disappeared Without a Trace

A respected advocate of the Cox’s Bazar District Court, Jnanendra Chowdhury became another victim of betrayal. He was handed over to the Pakistani army by local informants. After enduring brutal torture, he was executed near the southwestern corner of Cox’s Bazar’s Sea Beach Rest House. His body was never found.

Forced to Dig His Own Grave: The Execution of Master Ilyas

The Pakistani forces captured a beloved teacher at Ukhiya School, Master Ilyas. He was subjected to extreme brutality and forced to dig his own grave before being shot and buried in it. His execution took place on a dune in front of the Sea Beach Rest House. To this day, his grave remains unmarked.

Cox’s Bazar’s Execution Grounds: Silent Witnesses to a Bloody History

The legacy of these fallen heroes lingers in the sands of Cox’s Bazar, where several execution sites bear witness to their sacrifices. Mass killings took place at the beach area in front of the Sea Beach Rest House (now the 17 E.C.B. Camp), the foothills of Naithang Hill behind Teknaf Upazila Complex, and the area adjacent to Adinath Temple in Maheshkhali.

Their sacrifices remain an integral part of Cox’s Bazar’s history—a source of pride and an ever-painful reminder of the cost of freedom.

By Rajin Saleh

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