Saidul Khan

From my childhood, I have always been fascinated by the story of the Garo Labour Corps. Every year, July 16 was a date I eagerly looked forward to. It wasn’t just another commemorative event at Babupara filled with colour and solemnity, it was something deeper.

There was one name on the memorial that always intrigued me—“Bangal Sing Garo.” As a child, I couldn’t understand why a Garo would carry a name like Bangal Sing. In Garo Hills, the word Bangal is often used to describe non-Garos, particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims. The mystery of this name sparked a lifelong curiosity in me.

As I grew up and took to journalism, my fascination with the War Memorial Cenotaph at Babupara only deepened. I remember meeting renowned historian Dr. Milton Sangma, who patiently narrated the

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