On May 5, 1971, Shahid Sagar was a burning witness to the brutality and massacre of the Pak Army at the North Bengal Sugar Factory in Azimpur area of Gopalpur, Natore district. Pakistani troops took hundreds of sugar mill officials, employees and workers hostage at gunpoint and killed them with brush fire on the banks of the pond in front of the guest house of the sugar mill. On that day the water of the pond known as Gopal Sagar became stained with the blood of the martyrs. However, a few luckily survived the incident. After the independence of the country, this pond, full of sad memories, was named Shahid Sagar. In memory of the martyrs of 5th May 1973, Shaheed Sagar monument and a flower garden has been built on the east side of the monument. On May 5, 2000, a memorial museum was constructed at Shaheed Sagar Square. Every year on May 5, North Bengal Sugar Mill Genocide Day is observed in remembrance of the martyrs of Gopalpur.
According to legend, even after independence, the water of this pond was red with the coagulated blood of the martyrs. There are still symbolic red blood marks on the steps by the pond.
How to go
Natore can be reached via the Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge-Sirajganj route by Hanif, National Travels, Desh Travels, Grameen, Tuhin-Elite transportation from Kalyanpur and Gabtali in the capital Dhaka. Fares vary from Tk 590 to Tk 1300. And from Kamalapur railway station you can go to Natore by taking Rangpur, Lalmoni Express, Hirtyan or Nilsagar Express train. Train fare will be 375-1288 taka per seat. One can reach Shaheed Sagar located in North Bengal Sugar Factory at a distance of about 31 km from Natore district headquarters by bus, CNG, or autorickshaw.