'Mymensingh free day' today
Valiant freedom fighters freed the district from the Pakistani occupation forces on this day in 1971.
Marking the day, the district administration and Muktijoddha Sangsad's Mymensingh unit and Mymensingh Free and Victory Day Celebration Committee have jointly taken a week-long programme at Chhoto Bazar 'Mukta Mancha' from today, said Abbur Rob, former commander of Muktijoddha Sangsad Mymensingh.
The programmes include colourful procession, discussion and cultural functions, he said.
Different socio-cultural organisations have also chalked out different programmes to celebrate the day.
Quite a few battles took place between freedom fighters and Pakistani occupation army during the nine-month-long war of independence.
On April 17 in 1971, a fierce battle took place between Pak army and freedom fighters at Kalihati in Tangail and it continued for five days.
The Pakistani troops managed to enter Mymensingh town on April 22. The freedom fighters built their stronghold in bordering Haluaghat upazila of the district.
Between May and November in 1971, the freedom fighters and the Pak occupation forces locked in fierce fighting at different places in the district and surrounding areas and both sides witnessed huge casualties.
On December 7, freedom fighters freed Haluaghat from the occupation forces and the next day, Phulpur and Bhaluka upazilas were freed, followed by the liberation of Gouripur, Trishal, Ishwarganj and Tarakanda areas.
The valiant freedom fighters forced the Pak army to retreat from their remaining occupied areas in the district.
On December 10, the freedom fighters led by Principal Motiur Rahman, former president of the district unit of Awami League, and Indian allied forces marched towards the district town and freed it from the occupation forces.
A large number of freedom fighters, including students and cultural activists, as well as ordinary freedom loving people in the district sacrificed their valuable lives for the freedom of the motherland.
To keep their memory alive, a Liberation War Memorial titled 'Muktijoddha Smriti Saudha' was built on the bank of the Brahmaputra river in the town in 2000.