Maynamati War Cemetery
- Country Bangladesh
- Total identified casualties 702 Find these casualties
- Identified casualties from Second World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 23.48703, Longitude: 91.11293
Please note
Please be aware that there is a large flight of steps with no handrail, in the vicinity of the Cross of Sacrifice. There are also leeches and large stinging ants in the shrubbery throughout the Cemetery.
Cemetery Spotlight - Maynamati War Cemetery
Maynamati War Cemetery is located in Maynamati, Cumilla, beside the Maynamati Cantonment and easily reached from the Cumilla–Sylhet highway. Before the Second World War, Maynamati was a small hamlet, but during the conflict it developed into a major military camp with several hospitals and ordnance depots.
The cemetery commemorates Commonwealth servicemen who died during the Second World War. Many of the burials came from Nos. 14 and 150 British General Hospitals, which were based in the area, while others were transferred from isolated sites across Bangladesh and from Burma.
In total, the cemetery contains 713 Commonwealth war casualties from the Second World War, representing forces from the United Kingdom, India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, East Africa, West Africa, Belgium, Poland and others.
A large number of these burials were originally located in small cemeteries across Bangladesh—including Dhaka, Faridpur, Paksay, Saidpur, Santahar and Sirajganj—where long-term upkeep could not be maintained. Their relocation to Maynamati reflects CWGC’s commitment to perpetual care. The cemetery once contained 737 graves, but after the repatriation of 24 Japanese burials in 2024, the number now stands at 713.
Daily work at the site includes lawn mowing, hedge trimming, watering, pruning, cleaning headstones and ensuring that drainage systems and pathways remain in good condition, all in line with CWGC’s global standards. The horticultural team uses techniques suited to the local climate, such as soil enrichment, water-efficient irrigation and rapid vegetation control during the monsoon months.
The team faces several challenges, including the rapid vegetation growth brought on by the monsoon season, pest pressures and soil erosion. To manage erosion, GEO block placement and stabilisation measures are used on sensitive slopes. The cemetery also receives a high number of visitors each day, which increases foot traffic and creates additional demands on cleaning, pathway repair and landscape recovery.
These challenges are addressed through strengthened maintenance cycles and responsive grounds care. Visitors often comment on the cemetery’s serene atmosphere, and many are moved by the diversity of nationalities represented and the young ages of those commemorated. Local community members frequently regard the site as both a historical landmark and a peaceful place for reflection.
The horticultural approach at Maynamati focuses on maintaining CWGC standards while adapting to local environmental conditions. This includes careful soil management, seasonal turf renovation, efficient irrigation practices and continuous monitoring of plant health.
Sustainability remains central to the team’s work, with the use of natural fertilisers, the avoidance of chemical treatments, the preservation of biodiversity and environmentally responsible pest and water management systems. Water usage is monitored closely, particularly during dry months, to balance plant health with responsible resource use.
Location information
Maynamati is some 7 kilometres from the centre of Comilla, which is on the railway line linking Dhaka to Chittagong. It can be reached by train to Comilla railway station, 9 kilometres from the cemetery, or by the Dhaka - Chittagong highway.
The cemetery is 1 kilometre down the road leading from Comilla to Sylinet and a short distance past the Cantonment Military Hospital.
There is a C.W.G.C. road direction sign on a roundabout at the crossroad.
Visiting information
Maynamati War Cemetery is open every day between 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. Wheelchair access possible via main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on 01628 507200.
History information
Before the war Maynamati was a hamlet of a few dozen huts, but during the war a large military camp was established there. Several ordnance depots and a number of military hospitals, both British and Indian, were in the area, including Nos. 14 and 150 British General Hospitals; and the majority of the burials in Maynamati War Cemetery were from the various hospitals. Graves from isolated places in the surrounding country, and some from as far afield as Burma, were moved into the cemetery by the Army Graves Service and later on by the Commission; and it was found necessary to transfer also graves from small cemeteries at Dacca, Faridpur, Paksay, Saidpur, Santahan and Sirajgany, where they could not be maintained.
The cemetery was started by the Army and laid out by the garrison engineer. It is dominated by a small flat-topped hill crowned with indigenous flowering and evergreen trees. Between the entrance and this hill lie the Christian graves, and on the far side of it are the Muslim graves. On a terrace about half-way up the hill, facing the entrance, stands the Cross of Sacrifice, and on the other side a shelter looks over the Muslim graves to a tree-framed view of the countryside beyond.
There are now over 700, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this cemetery.