Joypurhat, Sirajganj freed  on this day in ’71

The districts Joypurhat and Sirajganj were freed on December 14, 1971, from the clutches of Pakistani occupation army.
JOYPURHAT: Earlier, the Pak army with the help of their local collaborators conducted atrocities for long nine months.
The Pak army set up camp at Joypurhat Sugar Mill on April 25, 1971. Later, they set up two more camps at Joypurhat College and Khanjanpur.
On April 26, the occupation forces killed two tailors Nazir Hossen and Abdus Salam at Purba Bazaar by shooting. On the same day they shot to death one Ram Kumar Khetan of Bazaar Goly who was trying to flee to India.
On April 27, they caught 36 Bangalees from Gariakanta area and shot them to death. For helping freedom fighters, they burnt one Lutfor Rahman of Pachurchak area to death.
Witness of the incidents freedom fighter Amzad Hossen said freedom fighters besieged the house of a collaborator Abdul Alim. Getting the information, the Pak army and other collaborators attacked on freedom fighters and snatched away Abdul Alim.
On April 30, the Pak army killed 371 people of blacksmith and potter communities of Koroi-Kadipur Village. Two survivors- Bhagirat Chandra Barman and Jogen Pal still remember the incident with tears.
The occupation army also killed 11 people at Bulupara of the district town. The incident still haunts Abu Taher and a martyr's mother Jamiran Bibi.
During the start of May, the Pak army killed local Awami League leader and Liberation War organiser Dr Abul Kashem, including Alef Uddin and Altaf Hossen. At that time, the local collaborators caught five freedom fighters and handed them over to the Pak army who killed them brutally.
As the district has border with India, the Pak army set up check posts on the frontier and killed many people fleeing to India to avoid their atrocities.
There is a bunker at Pagladewan area under Charbarkat Union where the Pak army killed many people. Freedom fighters Captain Idris and Hadiuzzaman Hadi led some face to face battles here. In one such battle, Hadiuzzaman Hadi was martyred.
A local freedom fighter and journalist Amanul Haque Babul demanded construction of a monument here to commemorate the great Liberation War and the freedom fighters.
Meanwhile, various local organisations chalked out different programmes to mark the day in a befitting manner.
SIRAJGANJ: Earlier, during the Liberation War, local people created strong resistance against the Pak army through forming an organisation "Palashdanga Juba Shibir". Besides, a guerrilla force was formed which fought against the Pak army in many battles across the district.
On December 13, 1971, freedom fighters involved in a face to face battle with the enemy forces at Shoilabari under Khokshabari Union of Sadar Upazila. As the freedom fighters intensified their attack, the occupation forces left Sirajganj town on December 13 night and went to Nagarbari through Ullahpara by train.
On December 14, 1971, the freedom fighters entered the town and hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh.
Various local organisations have chalked out different programmes to mark the day.