The plaque of the Liberation War martyrs' memorial in front of Miraz-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj town.Photo: STAR

Valiant freedom fighters and Indian allied forces on this month in 1971 continued their triumphant march towards Dhaka, making the final victory against the occupation Pakistan forces imminent.
People of Manikganj district will celebrate the 'Manikganj liberation day' today.
Declaring the district (the then sub-division) free from occupation forces, freedom fighters on this day in 1971 hoisted national flag atop the Primary Training Institute (PTI) in the town.
Under the leadership of Captain Abdul Halim Chowdhury, the freedom-loving people of the district vowed to resist the Pakistani Army in March 1971.
A day after the declaration of independence on March 26, freedom fighters collected firearms from Manikganj Treasury and started training at different places of the district.
Later the Pakistani forces captured important establishments, entered different areas of the district and killed many innocent people while the freedom fighters locked in fights and resisted them.
Eighty-two Pak soldiers were killed and 50 others held with injuries in a fierce battle with freedom fighters at Golaidanga village in Singair upazila on October 28. Freedom fighters Lokman Hossain, Zahidur Rahman and Tobarak Hossain Ludu led the operation.
In the last week of November in 1971, fresh groups of freedom fighters entered different areas of Manikganj and defeated Pakistani troops in a few battles.
Finally they declared the then sub-division (now Manikganj district) free on December 13.
Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Udjapon Parishad-2011 has organised a 15-day-long victory fair from today to mark the occasion.
State minister Captain (retired) Tajul Islam, also a veteran freedom fighter, will attend the inaugural function as chief guest at 3:00pm.
Photo exhibition on Liberation War, discussions, cultural functions and sports competition are some of the features of the fair, said Gazi Kamrul Huda Selim, chairman of the Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Udjapon Parishad-2011 and general secretary of Manikganj district unit of Bangladesh Awami League.
Ahead of the occasion, the freedom fighters a couple of days ago urged the authorities to complete the lists of the martyred freedom fighters and inscribe their names on the plaque at the martyrs' memorial in front of Shahid Miraz-Tapan Stadium in the town.
The plaque now has only 39 names as the authorities are yet to complete the list of freedom fighters who made supreme sacrifice during the Liberation War, they said.