In a poignant tribute to his lost child, Abdus Salam Khan framed the four-month-old dress of his daughter, Rehana, which is now displayed in Gallery 2 of the Liberation War Museum. The simple pale yellow cotton garment, adorned with a brown stripe, stands as a powerful symbol of the human cost of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.
Khan, a resident of Senhati village in Khulna, was an active opponent of Pakistani rule and played a role in training local youth during the Liberation War. On 30 April 1971, his home was attacked by local collaborators and Pakistani soldiers. Khan was absent at the time, and in a tragic act of violence, his infant daughter Rehana was killed in the courtyard.
Following the attack, Khan retrieved his daughter’s body and released it into the Rupsa River. In the years after independence, he preserved her dress in a frame as a personal memorial, keeping the memory of his daughter alive through the tangible symbol of her clothing.
In 1996, Khan personally donated the framed dress to the museum trustees in Khulna, recounting the heartbreaking events of that day. Dr. Sarwar Ali, a museum official, highlighted that the display underscores how even children were victims of genocide, serving as a solemn reminder of the indiscriminate cruelty endured during the war.
Abdus Salam Khan passed away on 22 February 2007, but Rehana’s dress remains a lasting testament to the sacrifices made by countless families during the liberation struggle. The museum continues to preserve such artefacts to educate visitors about the personal and collective tragedies of the 1971 war.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Rehana, infant daughter of Abdus Salam Khan |
| Age at Death | 4 months |
| Location | Senhati village, Khulna |
| Date of Incident | 30 April 1971 |
| Cause of Death | Killed by Pakistani soldiers and local collaborators |
| Artefact | Pale yellow cotton dress with brown stripe |
| Museum Display | Liberation War Museum, Gallery 2 |
| Donated | 1996 by Abdus Salam Khan |
| Significance | Highlights child victims of genocide during Liberation War |
| Father’s Death | Abdus Salam Khan, 22 February 2007 |
The display of Rehana’s dress continues to resonate with visitors, offering a deeply personal perspective on the war’s human toll and the enduring strength of memory and commemoration.
TSN