A neglected reminder of mass resistance

The then Pabna telephone exchange building at Gopalpur in the town witnessed the valiant resistance of the freedom-loving people, who kept the district headquarters free from the Pakistan occupation army for 10 days in the early days of 1971 Liberation War, defeating the Pakistan occupation army stationed there.

But surprisingly, no step has been taken to preserve the historic building or officially recognise the heroic people contributing to one of the significant events in Liberation War.

"After Bangabandhu's historic announcement on March 7, the people of Pabna took preparation to fight against the Pakistan army. We organised the locals and managed some personal firearms," said freedom fighter Baby Islam, also one of the commanders of the fight.

"When the Pakistan army began crackdown in Dhaka on the night of March 25, a troop of the occupation force also entered the district headquarters at Pabna.

"As locals got united to resist the force, the then deputy commissioner Nurul Kader Khan gave necessary instructions to the people and provided them access to the arsenal of Pabna Police Lines for getting armed. 

“On March 28, thousands of people, many of them carrying merely bamboo sticks and cleavers, encircled the telephone exchange office (now abandoned) where the Pakistan troop made their camp. Defying bullets from the enemies' strong firearms, we fought back with small firearms. We killed at least 40 soldiers after the daylong fight,” he said.

The next day, the Pakistan forces conducted an air attack to help rest of their troops move to safety and Pabna remained free from the occupation troops from March 29 to April 9, said Rabiul Islam Rabi, another hero of the fight.

“Later the occupation troops along with their local collaborators committed a number of massacres in the district from April 10 till the nation's final victory on December 16. The people of Pabna feel proud of country's first resistance fight,” he said.

Unfortunately, the now abandoned historic telephone exchange compound has become a safe haven for drug users, giving a painful sight to locals, especially the freedom fighters who led the fight.

"We urge the government to recognize the heroic battle of the common people that freed Pabna from occupation troops during one of the country's first resistance fights and take steps for preserving the historic building," said Baby Islam.