Banyan - A Silent Witness

Known as the home of tea, Srimangal has witnessed a chilling history dating back to the Liberation War of Bangladesh back in 1971. A centenary banyan tree can be found in a corner of 'Badhyabhoomi 71' next to the present rent-raised tea garden. The tree has a bloody history since the liberation war. About 47 tea workers were hanged from the roots coming down from this tree and many of them were killed on the same day. Some of them are brush fired, others are tied to banyan tree roots and hung upside down. Many have become the food for foxes and dogs. Many bodies were thrown into the nearby pond. After the battle, about four sacks of human skulls were recovered from the boat.

Various events of that time are known from Freedom Fighter Lakshmi Narayan Singh. During the war, he was in training in Kolkata, India and helped other Freedom Fighters. Various memories of the war are known from him. Although he was not there during the massacre of tea workers, his brother and father were there. His brother Shankar Lal Kahar helped the injured workers with water and services. The incident of that night can be heard from him.

Siraj Mian is found next to the tea garden. Siraj Miah, an auto driver, was the guide of the freedom fighters. From him, the description of the massacre of the workers and the killing of the women after their humiliation is known. Those bodies were found around the banyan trees and drains of this slaughterhouse. Also, many have not been found.

After many years of independence, freedom fighter Biraj Sen Tarun came forward to preserve this slaughterhouse. At that time, with the help of other freedom fighters and the Bangladesh Border Guard, this blood shredding place was named 'Badhyabhoomi 71' where the bengali word Badhyabhoomi refers to 'Slaughterhouse'. Even in today's gloomy environment, there is a banyan tree soaked in the blood of martyrs standing in one corner.

The past and present will be traced to the freedom gained more than fifty years ago through war memories, contemporary photographs and silent witnesses.