The High Court on Sunday asked the government to construct a monument at Salanga in Sirajganj to commemorate hundreds of people who were killed in shooting on January 27, 1922, during Mahatma Gandhi鈥檚 non-cooperation movement and the Khilafat movement.
The bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon issued the directive to the secretary of cultural affairs ministry and the deputy commissioner of Sirajganj.
The court also asked the government authorities to explain in four weeks why they would not be directed to recognise and declare January 27 as a national day commemorating the Salanga massacre victims.
The court passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Asad Uddin and 10 others, who are all residents of Sirajganj.聽
On January 27, 1922, in the wake of Mahatma Gandhi鈥檚 non-cooperation movement and the Khilafat movement, hundreds of thousands of peasants, artisans and traders from the entire North and North-West Bengal gathered at Salanga.
The movement led then young leader, Abdur Rashid later known as Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish.
The protesters protested against oppression of the local zamindars and trade monopoly of British goods in the local market.
Their peaceful movement turned into a bloodbath when British-Indian police emptied their rifles at the unarmed protesters.
