Today is December 8, an unforgettable day for the freedom-loving people of Pirojpur, Comilla and Barisal as after months of fighting, the three districts were freed from the clutches of Pakistani occupation forces and their local
collaborators.
PIROJPUR: On the face of fierce attack by the freedom fighters, the Pakistani military fled from Pirojpur on this day.
During the liberation war in 1971, the Government Boys' School in the town was the sub-divisional headquarter of the Pakistani army. Besides, there was military camp at each thana level.
The occupation army came to know from their local collaborators that the freedom fighters were preparing to take over the Pirojpur town. As a result, the occupation forces closed their thana level camps and gathered in the town.
But, from west, south and north sides, the freedom fighters attacked on the Pakistani forces, and finding no other alternative, the Pakistani army fled from the town through the Hulerhat River and went towards Barisal.
Later, the freedom fighters entered the town like heroes and hoisted the Bangladesh flag.
To mark the day, day-long programmes were chalked out in the district. In this connection, a celebration committee headed by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Khairul Alam Sheikh as chief advisor, Advocate MA Mannan as convener and 15 others including freedom fighter Goutam Chowdhury, journalist Ziaul Ahsan, and Secretary of Sher-e-Bangla Public Library Md. Golam Mawla Nakib, has been formed.
The programmes include; colourful procession, tribute to the martyrs' memorial, candle lighting, discussion meeting and cultural functions.
COMILLA: Marking the day, the district administration chalked out several programmes including nine-day Bijoy Mela, merriment rally, placing of floral wreaths on the graves of the martyrs, discussion meeting, cultural programmes and fire-works.
During the Liberation War, several battles were fought against the Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators by the freedom fighters in Comilla.
On August 14 in 1971, the enemy forces invaded Majigacha area under Comilla Sadar upazila and set ablaze villages and looted valuables. The Pakistani occupation forces also killed more than 400 people including women and children.
On November 11, 1971, the Pakistani army and their accomplices attacked the freedom fighters in Batiara under Chowddagram upazila. The battle continued the whole day, and at least nine freedom fighters embraced martyrdom.
On November 28, Jagannath Dighi area under Chowddagram upazila was freed from the Pakistani occupation, and on December 4, Barura and Chandina upazilas were also freed.
The battle at Comilla Airport was another event worth remembering. On the night of December 7, 1971, a fierce battle was fought between the freedom fighters and the Pakistani army.
Earlier, during the Liberation War period, the Pakistani occupation forces tortured and killed thousands of people, and dumped the bodies at the mass graveyards located at Asgara Bazar and Beltali Bazar under Laksam upazila.
President of Asgara Bazar committee Nurul Islam complained that there is no memorial stone marking the names of liberation war martyrs at Asgara Bazar, rather the place has turned into a den of drug addicts.
Comilla District Freedom Fighter Commander Safiul Ahmed Babul said, "The preservation process of the mass graveyards will start soon."
BARISAL: On this day in 1971, 'Mukti Bahini' (freedom fighters) took control of Barisal town defeating the Pakistani occupation army.
At the concluding part of the liberation war, Pakistan-controlled local administration had announced an indefinite curfew on the night of December 7, 1971.
After about nine months of the occupation, about 400 Pakistani army members and some of their local collaborators left Barisal on early hours of December 8 through waterway as the freedom fighters blocked the road communication from and towards Barisal.
During fleeing through the waterways, several water transports of the Pakistani army came under the bombing by four fighter jets of Indian Air Force, leaving most of the Pakistan army personnel and their collaborators killed on the day.
At 10:30am on December 8 of 1971, a group of freedom fighters, led by Base Commander Sultan Master entered from southern and western sides of the town and captured Barisal Kotwali Police Station.
At that time, people from their respective dwellings came out chanting the slogan 'Joy Bangla' defying the curfew.
After Base Commander Abdul Mannan, along with freedom fighters, entered the town, it came under the control of Mukti Bahini by the afternoon of December 8.
The collaborators who took shelter inside WAPDA, the-then regional headquarter of the occupation army, surrendered to Nurul Islam Manjur and Captain Mahfuz Alam Beg on December 20.
Earlier, the Pakistani army after an air raid on April 17 occupied the-then Barisal district town on April 25, 1971.
Later, the occupation army opened its regional headquarters and cantonment at the WAPDA Complex beside the Kirtankhola River.
Meanwhile, several memorials at different places of the city and the district are highlighting the great liberation war. These are located at WAPDA Complex, near deputy commissioner's office, at Amtala crossing, and at Barisal Government Girls School of the city.
The mass killing ground beside Barisal WAPDA office near the Kirtankhola River, is one of the major spots where a huge number of freedom fighters were tortured and killed and later their bodies were floated in the river, while a bunker of Pakistani occupation army has not only remained in a bad shape but is on the verge of destruction.
Barisal district command of Muktijoddha Sangsad, as part of marking the 46th anniversary of liberating Barisal from the Pakistani army, has chalked out a discussion meeting at its office on Thursday morning.
Besides, Udichi Barisal unit will also arrange a discussion and cultural function at the altar of Bijoy Bihanga at Amtala crossing of the city on Thursday afternoon.
