Zakir Azad, Cumilla

The Independence Monument in Cumilla Victoria College Higher Secondary Branch has been facing extinction due to low quality of works.

Iron altar on three sides and 71 square boxes randomly scattered on the east side of Rani Dighi. These are a reflection of independent Bangladesh.

This traditional independence monument is now in a dilapidated condition. There is a hole in the middle. The eastern side is falling into the Raner Dighi. The exceptional Independence Monument needs renovation. Although a wall is seen to be constructed on the eastern side.

According to various sources, the foundation stone of the memorial was laid by AH Mofazzal Karim, the president of Old Victorians and the then secretary of the Bangladesh government, on July 8, 1994. The official inauguration was held on March 26, 1995 by the mother of martyr Janani Jatindra Bhadra.

The architectural design of the Independence Building was created by Professor Nizamuddin Ahmad of BUET Architecture Department, Engineer Sheikh Abul Hossain, Engineer Golam Mohiuddin and others. Its construction was sponsored by Old Victorian Yusuf Abdullah Haroon and Bhaiya Group of Industries, in addition to its own funds from Old Victorians, the alumni association of Cumilla Victoria College.The students and teachers of this college have made important contribution in the liberation war, many have been martyred. "Freedom Monument" has been erected in front of the college in their memory.

The length of this independence monument is 72 feet, width is 17 feet. There are total 71 square slabs. It is a symbol of purity and purity. Each slab is two feet four inches in length and two feet four inches in width. A square slab faces north at the entrance to the monument. Which reminds Bengali Chetna Poila Boishakh. Along with it there are two pit shaped slabs. Many agitations from 1952 to 1971 could not capture the history, so these slabs are sunk in the pit. Then there are seven slabs arranged in layers, which refer to March 7. To its south are 21 randomly arranged square slabs, which bear the memory of the language movement. Next to it are 26 square slabs, which are symbols of the armed struggle for freedom. Finally there are 16 square slabs, which are considered symbols of victory. Excluding the two sunken slabs, the total number of slabs is 71. Incidentally, Cumilla Victoria Government College was established in 1899. More than three hundred teachers and students of this college participated in the liberation war in 1971.

The Independence Monument is dedicated to the names of 28 martyrs who were teachers and students of this college. They are - Advocate Jatindra Kumar Bhadra, Advocate Prasanna Kumar Bhowmik, Lieut. Colonel Mostaq Ahmad, Dilip Dutt, Pranagopal Bhattacharya, Shishir Chandra Das Rana, Asim Shanti Roy, Ashok Kumar Guha Benu, Nihar Ranjan Sarkar, Priyalal Ghosh, Kajal Kumar Bhadra, AKM Shahnewaz Sardar, Humayun Kabir, Abdul Mannan, Kazi Abdul Malek , Vijaykrishna Goswami, Md. Shamsul Haque, AKM Mozammel Haque, Md. Khwaja Nizamuddin Bhuiyan, Md. Saiful Islam, Khandaker Abu Taher Abu, Zainal Abedin, Md. Salim Mia, Md. Solaiman Mia, Md. Mustafa Kamal, Parimal Chandra Dutta, Bhulu Pal and Syed Safiqur Rahman.