JASHORE, Dec 6: Jashore Freedom Day was celebrated on Saturday, 6th December.
On the occasion of Jashore Liberation Day, the district administration and the Jashore Unit of the Freedom Fighters' Council have organized a day-long extensive programme. The programmes include discussion meetings, exhibitions based on the Liberation War, honouring freedom fighters, cultural events, etc.
On this day in 1971, Jashore District was liberated from the occupying forces. Under the joint attack of the freedom fighters and allied forces, the Pakistani occupation forces began to leave Jashore from the morning of this day. Starting from the afternoon of the previous day, the Jashore Cantonment began to empty out. Pakistani soldiers also fled from the Jashore Collectorate building. From dawn on December 6th, members of the freedom fighters and allied forces stationed in rural areas began entering Jashore Town in processions. By midday, the town was bustling with the footsteps of freedom-loving people. The national flag was raised at the Jashore Collectorate building. In the afternoon, a gathering of freedom-loving people was held on the Jashore Town Hall grounds. From this assembly, members of the freedom fighters made a firm commitment to liberate the entire country from the enemy.
During the Liberation War, Jashore was under Sector 8. The commander of this sector was then Major Manjur. On the other hand, the Pakistani forces had deployed the 107th Brigade. From the Jashore military base, the enemy forces controlled six districts. On November 20th, the freedom fighters and allied forces launched an operation to capture the Jashore military base. The combined forces surrounded Chaugachha, a stronghold of the Pakistani forces in the western region. The Jashore military base came under the artillery range of the allied forces. Chaugachha fell on the night of November 22nd. During this time, the allied and freedom fighters established strong positions on three sides of the Jashore military base. The final offensive of the resistance war began on December 5th and 6th. Unable to withstand the battle, the Pakistani forces fled towards Khulna. On December 6th, the freedom fighters took control of Jashore city. After dusk that day, they held a victory procession in the city. On the morning of December 7th, a large crowd of people gathered in liberated Jashore. Amidst the joy and celebration, the air grew heavy with the tears of those who had lost loved ones. On December 11th, at a gathering held on the Jashore Town Hall grounds, the Acting President of the Mujibnagar government Syed Nazrul Islam and Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed delivered speeches.
