Anderson Bridge massacre

LocationAnderson Bridge, East Bengal, Dominion of PakistanDate12 February 1950 (UTC+6:00)TargetBengali Hindusmass murder, massacreWeaponsSwords, MachetesPerpetratorsalleged to be East Bengal authorities

Anderson Bridge massacre (Bengali: অ্যান্ডারসন সেতুর হত্যাকাণ্ড) refers to the massacre of Hindu passengers on the Anderson Bridge on 12 February 1950.

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Violence against Hindus in East Pakistan and Bangladesh
Issues
Religious persecution Ethnic relations Freedom of religion Religious violence Secularism Religious intolerance
Incidents after 1947 - East Pakistan
1950 Barisal Riots 1962 Rajshahi massacres 1964 East-Pakistan riots Sitakunda massacre Anderson Bridge massacre Muladi massacre
Incidents in 1971
Adityapur massacre Akhira massacre Bagbati massacre Baria massacre Barguna massacre Bhimnali massacre Dakra massacre Demra massacre Dhapdhup massacre Gabha Narerkathi massacre Galimpur massacre Golahat massacre Hasamdia massacre Ishangopalpur massacre Jandi massacre Jathibhanga massacre Jogisho and Palsha massacre Ketnar Bil massacre Krishnapur massacre Nikli massacre Pomara massacre Ramna massacre Satanikhil massacre Sendia massacre Shankharibazar massacre Shankharikathi massacre Sree Angan massacre Suryamani massacre Sutrapur massacre
Incidents after 1971 - Bangladesh
1989 Bangladesh pogroms Nidarabad murder case 1990 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence 1992 Bangladesh violence 2014 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence 2016 Nasirnagar Violence 2021 Bangladesh communal violence
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Background

Anderson Bridge also known as the Bhairab Bridge is a 1 km long railway bridge over the Meghna River, connecting Bhairab Bazar Junction in Kishoreganj District with Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria District. The bridge carries a single metre-gauge rail track. In 1950, it was an important rail link connecting Dhaka and Mymensingh districts on the west with Sylhet, Comilla and Chittagong districts in the east.^[1]

Events

On 12 February, most of the Hindu passengers travelling on this train route were murdered. All the cases followed a pattern. The assailants would board the trains from either side either at Bhairab Bazar Junction or Ashuganj, just before the train departed. They would lock the doors of the compartment from inside. When the train was completely on the bridge, the train would stop. The assailants would pick out the Hindus one by one, force them out of the compartment, slit their throats and throw their corpses into the river.^[1][2]

According to Tathagata Roy, it was a carefully planned massacre. The train crew and the guard were involved in it. Prabhas Chandra Lahiri has held Aziz Ahmed, the Chief Secretary of East Bengal and Abdul Majid, the District Magistrate of Rajshahi responsible for this massacre.^[1]

See also

• 1950 Barisal Riots

References