1971 Dhaka University Massacre - Massacre of Teachers

Massacre of Teachers

At the beginning of Operation Searchlight 10 teachers of Dhaka University were killed.

Professor Fajllur Rahman and his two relatives were killed at building 23 situated at Nilkhet. Professor Rahman’s wife escaped because she was not in the country. Pakistani army also attacked the house of Professor Anwar Pasha and Professor Rashidul Hassan (English Department). Both of them survived by hiding under beds, but were killed later on the verge of war by Al-Badar militia. Professor Rafiqul Islam of Bangla literature department was at building 24. Two wounded women with their children stayed in the entrance of the building for some time. When the army came they found blood on the stairs and, surmising that other groups had done the massacre, left. This way Professor Rafiqul escaped. Later he stated that there had been one East Pakistani professor at that building, who left home before 25 March. All other non-Bengali families did the same without informing others.

At Number 12 Fuller Road, the army called on Sayed Ali Noki (Professor Social Science). They allowed him to go but killed Professor Abdul Muktadir (Geology) who was a resident of the same building. His body was found at Jahurul Huq Hall (then Iqbal Hall). He was buried at Paltan by his relatives. Professor K. M. Munim (English Literature), the house tutor of Salimullah Student Hall, was injured at Salimullah Hall. Professors A R Khan Khadim and Sharafat Ali of Mathematics department were killed in Dhaka Hall. At Jagannath Hall they attacked teachers' residence and harassed Professor Mirja Huda (Economics) and Professor Mofijullah Kabir (History).

When Jagannath Hall, a student dormitory for minority Hindu students, was attacked the provost house was also affected. The army killed Ex-Provost and famous professor of philosophy G. C. Dev with his Muslim adopted daughter’s husband. Later they attacked university staff quarters and killed Dr. Manirujjaman, Professor of Statistics, along with his son and relatives. Professor Jotirmoy Guha Thakurota the provost of Jagannath hall was severely injured by army attack and died in the hospital later. Dormitory electrician Chitrabali and eye witness Rajkumari Devi state that the doctors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital recognized Dr. Thakuraota and buried him under a tree near Dhaka Medical College morgue.

Professor Monirujjaman and Jotirmoy Guha Thakurota were kept together and killed. Assistant house tutor Anudoipayon Bhattacharja was also killed at that dorm. This information was taken from the novel “Riffel Roti Awrat” (Rifle, Bread, Women) by Professor Anwar Pasha who was later killed in December. Professor Pasha wrote this famous Bengali Novel during the nine-month war period of 1971.