RAJSHAHI, April 24, 2022 (BSS)- The historic 'Khapra Ward Day' was observed today at Rajshahi Central Jail and in the city paying rich tributes to seven detained communist political prisoners who were killed in 1950.

A 20-member team, led by city unit general secretary of the Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) Debashish Pramanik and other leaders placed wreath on the memorial plaque in front of the historic Khapra Ward inside the Rajshahi Central Jail.

Marking the day, they also observed one-minute silence there in memory of the slain leaders. Addressing a discussion, Debashish Pramanik called for preserving the historic ward as a library and museum after necessary repairs.

The historic records say, on this day in 1950, the then on-duty jail guards following the order of a jailer shot dead seven communist party leaders, who were detained in Khapra Ward of Rajshahi Central Jail, when they had tried to protest the inhuman behaviour meted out to them.

The detainees were served low quality food and deprived of other requisite facilities allowed under the jail code on the instruction of the then jail authority.

The slain communist leaders are Sukhendu Bhattacharya of Mymensingh, Baloram Singh of Dinajpur, Sudhin Dhar of Nawabganj, Delwar Hossain and Hanif Sheikh of Kushtia, Bijon Sen and Anwar Hossain of Khulna.

In observance of the day, another team of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and National Awami Party (NAP) placed wreath at Shaheed Minar in front of the Khapra Ward inside the jail.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Comrade Moni Singh visited the Khapra Ward in 1972. Marking the day, the city unit of WPB organised a discussion at its party office. Local unit of CBP also organised a meeting at its office with city unit president Enamul Haque in the chair.

Besides, NAP and Chhatra Union jointly brought out a procession in the city. However, the historic day couldn't be observed for the last two consecutive years due to the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic.