'Manikganj free day' today
Manikganj was freed from the clutches of the Pakistani occupation forces on this day in 1971.
People from all walks of life in the district observe the day as 'Manikganj Liberation Day' every year.
On December 13 in 1971, the heroic freedom fighters declared the district (the then sub-division) free from the Pakistan Army and hoisted the national flag atop the Primary Training Institute (PTI) in the town.
Since the beginning of March '71, the freedom-loving people of the district started preparing themselves under the leadership of Captain Abdul Halim Chowdhury so that they could resist the Pakistani occupation forces and fight back.
As a part of their preparation, freedom fighters looted firearms from Manikganj Treasury on March 27, a day after the declaration of the country's independence on March 26.
Witnessing the Pakistani forces capturing several important establishments of the district and killing so many innocent people, freedom fighters formed 'Biplobi Parishad' at Kowri village in Harirampur upazila and confronted them in a number of battles, splitting into several groups.
On October 28, 1971, freedom fighters led by Engineer Tobarak Hossain Ludu, Lokman Hossain and Zahidur Rahman killed 82 Pakistani soldiers and held 50 others wounded in a fierce battle at Golaidanga village in Singair upazila.
Besides, another group led by Bir Protik Ibrahim launched a successful operation and blew up Siddhirganj Power House.
On November 11, Pakistani forces launched an attacked at Teroshree village in Ghior upazila and killed 43 innocent villagers.
In the last week of November, freedom fighters entered the district and finally declared the then sub-division free from the clutches of the occupation forces on December 13, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Manikganj unit, Commander Engineer Tobarak said.
In March 2006, a martyrs' memorial was built in front of the Shaheed Miraz-Tapan Stadium with names of only 39 martyred freedom fighters engraved on a plaque.
Later, another memorial named 'Adamya Ekattor' was built engraving names of 50 martyred freedom fighters in December 2016.
Marking the occasion, Manikganj people have been organising a 15-day-long fair, 'Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela,' since 1991.
Although the victory fair begins on December 13 every year and continues till December 27, the fair began on December 5 this year and will conclude on December 20 due to the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for December 30, Chairman of Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Udjapon Parishad 2018 Golam Mohiuddin said.
Marking the Manikganj free day, the fair managing committee will accord reception to freedom fighters and their family members on December 14, he said.