Golaghat massacre [SEP] point in time
Golaghat massacre
Golaghat massacre () was a massacre of the emigrating Marwaris and Hindus of Saidpur on the 13 June 1971, by the Urdu-speaking people of the area who had collaborated with the Pakistani occupation army.
Background.
Saidpur is a railway town and a commercial hub situated in the Nilphamari District of Rangpur division of Bangladesh. It is situated near Parbatipur, which was an important rail junction in undivided India, connecting the North East to the rest of the country. The Marwaris, attracted by the prospect
were either smashed on the railway tracks or flung into the air and then caught with bayonets.
There is some confusion regarding the number of people killed in the Golaghat massacre. According to the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha and Prothom Alo 437 Hindus were killed in the massacre. However, Sarmila Bose mentioned a figure of 338, quoting from an account of Dwarka Prasad Singhania, Marwari businessman of Saidpur. Only ten from those who boarded the train could escape. They ran towards Dinajpur and finally took shelter in India.
Memorial.