A verdant grass carpet spread over the raised dune-shaped area, which is the pillar of Liberation War. One of the witnesses to the swearing of Kaderia Army on June 10, 1971, established in a hilly area 42 km from Tangail. There, countless freedom fighters of the Qaderia forces took an oath touching the Holy Quran, Bible and Gita for the goal of freeing the country. In 1996, Awami League member of Parliament Bangabir Qader Siddiqui took the initiative to build Biruttam oath pillar with the funding of Zilla Parishad to make the incident of 1971 memorable forever.
There is a mass grave of the martyrs of the liberation war too next to the pillar of oath. In addition, initiatives were taken to develop it as a tourist area with restrooms, graveyards, liberation war museums. Multifaceted initiatives were taken to commemorate the memory of the martyrs with various variations and architectural features in the design of the oath pillar, including the symbol of the rising sun.
Abstract images of the language movement of 52, the education movement of 66, the mass uprising of 69 and the freedom struggle of 71 were displayed on four walls.
This huge pillar attracts the attention of travelers too. There is no end to the interest of children and youths with the pillar standing tall on a hill covered with green grass. Some are taking selfies by standing next to the pillar wall. Some are curious to know the history of this colorless faded architecture from the locals. In this way, the tragic story of the establishment, which is intertwined with the memories of the great liberation war, is being revealed to the generations for the last 26 years.
Speaking to local residents and several freedom fighters, it is known that the locals know the structure as a memorial or monument, but actually the name of the structure is "Oath Pillar of Liberation War". This is the only oath pillar of the liberation war in the country. There is also a mass grave of freedom fighters at that place.
The then president of Bangladesh, Justice Sahabuddin Ahmed, was supposed to inaugurate the pillar, but it was not possible due to Kader Siddiqui's disagreement with the Awami League. Since then the construction of the pillar has been stopped. After 26 long years, the construction work of the pillar was not started. This oath pillar with the memories of the liberation war is lying in neglect.
Shafiqur rahman, the former Deputy Commander of Upazila Muktijoddha Command Council said, there was a huge base and training center of the liberation war at Baheratoil. On June 10, 1971, numerous freedom fighters of six companies of the Kaderia army gathered at Beheratoil and took the oath of independence of the country by touching their scriptures. On that day, Hindus, Muslims, Christians took a pledge together - they promised not to return home until the country becomes independent.
Qader Siddiqui took the initiative to build an oath pillar at that place to commemorate this incident of swearing. Initiatives were taken to develop the pillar as a tourist area with the construction of a liberation war museum and restrooms. The design of the Plinth had a multi-faceted plan to highlight diversity and architectural features, including the rising sun symbol. There was also a plan to collect the monuments and memorials of the glorious liberation war of Bangladesh, the information, evidence, records etc. of the liberation war and keep them in the museum built at this place. But even though the pro-liberation war government has been in power for a long time, the oath pillar has been neglected.
MA Gani , Ex-Commander of Upazila Muktijoddha Command Council and veteran Muktijoddha said that there are many places where freedom fighters have just walked and there are also memorials. However, a glorious history of liberation war is buried in Beheratoil, no one is taking the initiative to rescue it.
In this regard, Farzana, Sakhipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said, a mural of Bangabandhu has already been placed next to the swearing pillar with the funding of the Zilla Parishad and a brick wall has been built around the pillar. Apart from this, a letter will be sent to the Ministry of Liberation War with detailed information including the plan of the place where the memories of the Liberation War are intertwined. So that the masterplan from the ministry is implemented in phases.
fazlur Rahman Khan Faroq, the Chairman of Tangail Zilla said, “During the war, the Kaderia army had built a secret base at the place of Baheratoil. Many freedom fighters took oath there. After the war, a minaret named Sapthastambha was built in 1996 to mark the place.
It has not been inaugurated yet.
Therefore, in order to preserve the place, the Zilla Parishad has recently made a mural of Bangabandhu around the wall. We have future plans to build more there and awaken that oath pillar”.
