The Lakshmipur Kalibari Genocide
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Publication Year | April 2026 |
| Author(s) | Shuly Khatun |
| Journal Name | Journal of Genocide and Liberation War Research |
| Volume, Issue | 8 (English) |
| Pagination | 71-92 |
| Article Type | Paper |
| DOI |
Keywords: Liberation War, Mass Killings, Sexual Violence, Testimony, Local Collaborators
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Abstract: The Lakshmipur Kalibari Genocide, carried out on 20 August 1971 in Atgharia upazila of Pabna district, represents one of the many localized atrocities during the Bangladesh Liberation War. This study investigates the massacre in which 28 out of 29 villagers—predominantly Hindus and supporters of the Awami League—were executed by the Pakistani army, with the participation of local collaborators including Razakars, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams. The attack followed a clash between freedom fighters and Pakistani forces along the Nagarbari highway, after which the army systematically rounded up villagers, bound them, and executed them in front of the Kali temple. Eyewitness testimonies document not only mass killings but also widespread sexual violence against women, forced displacement, and social trauma. Using field interviews conducted in June 2017, this research reconstructs the events, identifies the victims, and contextualizes the atrocity within the broader campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Pakistani military. The Lakshmipur incident exemplifies the targeted persecution of religious and political groups, revealing the intersection of communal identity and political allegiance in the violence of 1971. By documenting survivor testimonies and corroborating local narratives, the study contributes to the historiography of Bangladesh’s Liberation War, emphasizing the human cost of military aggression and the importance for preserving memory at the micro-level of individual villages.