People from all walks of life here on Saturday celebrated the day of freedom from the Pakistan occupation forces in 1971 in a befitting manner with mixed feelings of grief, pleasures and pride.
On December 7 in 1971, valiant freedom fighters (FFs) liberated Gaibandha town defeating the Pakistan occupation forces who entered Gaibandha town on April 17 in 1971 and stationed themselves at wireless office and then Helal Park now it is Gaibandha stadium.
A team of FFs over 350 led by company commander Mahbub Elahi Ranju Bir Protik entered the town through Pulbandi area with great joy and pride bearing the flag of independent Bangladesh and shaking hands with the people standing on both sides of the streets.
Among others, FFs Wasiqur Mohammad Ikbal Mazu, Maminur Rahman Jubel, Mahmudul Haque Sahjada, Mujibul Haque Sana, Raza Miah, Sirajul Islam, Imam Hossain, Dhiru Miah and Imdadul Haque Bablu accompanied the team.
Earlier, the FFs under 11 no sub sector fought against the Pakistani army and their local collaborators in several battles at different places including Nandina, Madarganj, Trimohini, Gobindi Embankment, Ratanpur, Sluice Gate, Bhangamour, Mohimaganj and Kalasonar Char area of the district.
In the face of joint attack by the FFs and the Indian allied forces, the Pakistani occupation forces were defeated and finally, they retreated from Gaibandha town on December 6 and took shelter at Rangpur and Bogra Cantonments.
And thus, the Gaibandha town was liberated from the hands of Pakistani Army on this day in 1971, said Mahbub Elahi Ranju, Bir Protik.
Businessmen Mazibar Rahman and Ranga Miah of Purbapara and Kalachand Saha of Puratan Bazar here were the martyrs at first, among others, as they were shot dead by the enemy forces on April 18, a day just after camping here, said former commander of Bangladesh Muktijodha Sangshad, district unit command, Mahmudul Haque Sahjada.
During the war, Pakistani army men with the help of local collaborators indiscriminately killed many other innocent and unnamed people, raped scores of women and young girls at camps and looted valuables from the houses in the district.
Marking the day, Gaibandha Hanadar Mukta Dibash Udjapan Committee chalked out the elaborate programmes in the town on the day.
Besides, in the morning, a colorful rally led by heroic FF Mahabub Elahi Ranju Bir Protik was brought out from the loan office and ended at the Bijoy Stambha of Gaibandha Poura Park after parading the main thoroughfares of the town.
Later, a discussion meeting was held on the premises of the Bijoy Stambha with convener of the committee Wasiqur Mohammad Ikbal Maju in the chair.
Administrator of Zilla Parishad Syed Shamsul Alam Hiru, heroic FFs Mahabub Elahi Ranju Bir Protikl, Mahmudul Haque Sahjada, Goutam Chandra Modak, Shasul Arefin Tareque and political leaders Abu Bakar Siddique, Ranajit Bakshi Surjya and Shah Sarwar Kabir addressed, among others. -BSS, Gaibandha
