A Forgotten Hero of 1971: Sepoy Mokmed Ali’s Grave Still Lies in Silence Across the Border

Sangram Datta

Over half a century has passed since the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, yet one of its valiant soldiers, Sepoy Mokmed Ali, remains buried quietly in a remote graveyard at Chalishdron village in Kadamtala Block of Dharmanagar in North Tripura, India — far from the land he died to liberate. With no formal recognition, his grave stands as a painful reminder of the many unsung heroes whose sacrifices still lie in the shadows of history.

On 12 October 1971, Sepoy Mokmed Ali, a brave soldier of the 8th Bengal Regiment (ID: 3940088), embraced martyrdom during a fierce guerrilla battle against the Pakistani army at the Sagarnal Tea Garden area in Kulaura Upazila under Moulvibazar district in Bangladesh. The very next day, his body was brought across the border and laid to rest in a modest graveyard beside a temporary Bangladeshi camp used during the war.

The story of his resting place resurfaced only recently when Minhazul Alam, a local from Tripura, shared details and photos of the graveyard on the Bangavita Facebook page. He also revealed that the graveyard contains several other unnamed graves — possibly those of freedom fighters who died in battles but whose identities were never recorded.

Sepoy Mokmed Ali’s home address is inscribed on a modest plaque beside his grave: Kismat Nayapara under Goalpara Post Office in Comilla District, Bangladesh. This plaque was reportedly placed by locals — the only gesture acknowledging his sacrifice. His family, however, appears unaware of his final resting place, and no official or organizational contact has been made to locate or commemorate him.

The silence surrounding his grave reflects a broader truth: many martyrs of the Liberation War remain undocumented, their graves unvisited, and their stories untold. The legacy of Bangladesh's independence remains incomplete without honoring each and every hero who gave their life.

It is high time for the Government of Bangladesh and relevant institutions — including the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs — to trace such graves, formally recognize these martyrs, and help families reconnect with their heroic past. Sepoy Mokmed Ali's grave in Indian soil deserves not only remembrance but state-level honor and preservation.

As Bangladesh celebrates its independence each year, may we also pledge to remember those who lie beyond our borders, who shed blood for a dream of freedom. Their sacrifice must not fade into obscurity.