Forgotten Massacre: The 1950 Meghna Bridge Horror

Forgotten Massacre: The 1950 Meghna Bridge Horror

On February 12, 1950, a gruesome massacre took place on the Meghna Bridge, situated between Bhairab Bazar and Ashuganj in what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). That day, every train crossing the bridge was stopped mid-river, and every Hindu passenger was brutally murdered—their throats slit and bodies thrown into the waters below. One of the few survivors of this horror was Ranjit Kar, who lived to tell the tale. He escaped death simply because he was wearing pajamas, while most Hindu men traditionally wore dhotis and shirts, making them easy to identify. This tragic event remains one of the many hidden chapters of history, where Bengali Hindus faced relentless persecution at the hands of their Muslim counterparts. Yet, what is even more astonishing is that the victims themselves have largely kept this history buried, allowing the world to forget the suffering of their ancestors. The erasure of these stories raises an important question: Why is there such silence about the atrocities committed against Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan? Was it fear, political convenience, or something else? Regardless of the reasons, it is essential to remember and acknowledge these dark pages of history to honor those who lost their lives and ensure that such tragedies are never repeated.