Ali Ahmed Chandu Mia of Kishoreganj cannot forget the day of terror during the liberation war when Pakistani soldiers bayoneted his friend and family members and then shot them dead.

Later, the soldiers decapitated the bodies. For the last 48 years, Chandu Mia has preserved the skull of his friend and family members. In 1971, Chandu Mia was a student of class seven.

He recounts: “One day in 1971, when I heard that Pakistani forces were on their way, ran to the Hindu area to tell them to flee but many could not go and were victims of atrocity.”

“Hiding under a water hyacinth plant, I saw the soldiers brutally kill my friend, Ranjit Das, his father Bidyasundar Das and another person, Khetra Mohan Das. Later, I bought the severed heads in a bag and buried them. After independence, exhumed the skulls, cleaned them and put them in my room.”

Dilip Das, brother of Ranjit, who averted the atrocity, is alive and often comes to Chandu Mia’s home to see the skulls and feels that his brother is in good care.

ADC of Kishoreganj, Abdullah Al Masud, said: “Chandu Mia’s initiative is laudable and this will preserve the memories of the liberation war. Government has undertaken a project to preserve the memories of the war. From Chandu, people can know about the barbarity unleashed on the people by the savage invading forces.”

Chandu Mia dreams of making a small museum in his home to showcase the barbarism of the Pak army.