Manikganj celebrates liberation today
Valiant freedom fighters of Manikganj, then a sub-division, liberated their motherland on this day in 1971 with hoisting the national flag atop Primary Training Institute in the district headquarters.
In March 1971, people of Manikganj, under the leadership of Captain Abdul Halim Chowdhury, put up resistance against the Pakistani occupation forces.
The freedom fighters started training with firearms after collecting those from Manikganj armoury on March 27, the day after the country’s independence was declared.
While the Pakistan forces captured several important establishments in the district and killed many innocent people, the freedom fighters formed ‘Biplobi Parishad’ at Kowri village in Harirampur upazila and fought the enemy in a number of battles, splitting into several groups.
On October 28, the freedom fighters -- led by Engineer Tobarak Hossain Ludu, Lokman Hossain and Zahidur Rahman -- in a fierce battle killed 82 Pakistani soldiers and held 50 others with injuries at Golaidanga village in today’s Singair upazila.
Meanwhile, in an operation led by Bir Protik Ibrahim, the freedom fighters blew up Siddhirganj power station.
On November 22, Pakistan forces attacked Teroshree village in Ghior upazila and killed 43 innocent lives including Atiar Rahman, principal of Terosree College and Siddheswary Prosad Roy Chowdhury, a former Zamindar of the area.
The freedom fighters in a major offensive during the last week of the month pushed towards the then sub-divisional headquarters by defeating the enemy forces at a number of battles.
Finally, on December 13, they declared Manikganj sub-division free from occupation, said Engineer Tobarak, commander of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad in Manikganj district unit.
A memorial for the martyred freedom fighters of Manikganj was built in March 2006 in front of Shaheed Miraz-Tapan Stadium.
The plaque at the memorial has only 39 names of martyrs engraved as the authorities, 48 years after the war was won, are yet to prepare a complete list of martyrs in the district, lamented freedom fighter Lokman Hakim.
In December 2016, a memorial named ‘Adomyo Ekattor’ was built with 50 names of martyred freedom fighters engraved on its plaque.
On the occasion of liberating Manikganj, Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Parishad is organising a 15-day-long ‘Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela’, scheduled to start today at 3:00pm.
Health and Family Welfare Minister and Manikganj-3 lawmaker Zahid Maleque will attend the programme as chief guest.
At the fair there will be a photo exhibition, discussions, Jatra, puppet show, Paala Gaan, theatre, cultural competitions and sporting events. Also, around 300 stalls will showcase various items including books, clothes, musical instrument, food and toys, said Abdul Majid, member secretary of the Parishad.
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