This Bengali-language article of Gabriel Shondwip Rozario provides information on how Christians and Muslims of Atharogram Region -- that falls under the Catholic parishes of Hashnabad, Golla, and Tuital of Dhaka District -- participated in the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. A good number of them participated as freedom fighters, others by giving shelter and food to internal refugees who fled West Pakistani soldiers' attacks and persecution.
American Catholic missionary Father William Evans, C.S.C., risking his life, assisted and gave hope and encouragement to the freedom fighters. West Pakistani army personnel, in retaliation, killed him on Nov. 13, 1971, when he was going by boat to Bokshonagar, a nearby mission station, for hearing confession and saying Mass for the Catholics there.
