<i>Rajshahi, Pabna taste freedom on this day</i>
Although the nation achieved final victory against the Pakistan occupation forces on December 16 in 1971, the people of Rajshahi and Pabna had to wait two more days to get the taste of freedom.
Freedom fighters and different social and cultural organisations have undertaken various programmes including discussions and cultural functions to remember 'Rajshahi liberation day' today, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.
Hearing the news of surrender of the Pakistan army in Dhaka on December 16 in 1971, thousands of people came out to the streets in Rajshahi.
On December 17 in 1971, the Pakistan forces withdrew from the cantonment as well as different important points of the town and took shelter at their strategic camp set up at Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall in Rajshahi University.
On the night, the occupation forces left their last camp in the area and fled to Natore. On the morning of December 18, the freedom fighters accompanied by townspeople made triumphant march in the town.
“I can't resist tears when I remember the scene of the hall that day. There was blood all around. Locals and freedom fighters rescued a number of seriously injured people including many abused women from there," said freedom fighter Shushil Soren.
The Pakistani forces later surrendered to the Indian allied forces at Natore on December 20.
From March 3 in 1971, there were sporadic clashes between local people and Pakistan army in Rajshahi area. On March 28, Pakistan forces killed a number of Bangalee policemen at Rajshahi Police Lines for their refusal to surrender arms.
After this, the freedom fighters under the leadership of Captain Giasuddin Chowdhury and Captain Rashid formed resistance against the occupation forces and forced them to remain confined to Rajshahi cantonment from April 3 and 13.
On April 13, a huge enforcement of Pakistani army from Dhaka broke the local freedom fighters' resistance. The later days saw massacres by the occupation forces and a number of face to face fights and guerrilla attacks by the freedom fighters in and around Rajshahi.
Later a number of mass graves were found around the town and in different upazilas of the district.
Our Pabna Correspondent adds: The freedom fighters hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh in Pabna deputy commissioner's office on December 18 in 1971 when the Pakistan occupation forces surrendered in the district town.
A discussion and cultural programme will be held marking the day today.
“On December 16 in 1971, the Pakistan occupation army took shelter at Wapda compound in Pabna town and in Ishwardi upazila and managed to maintain their hold till December 17. At last they surrendered to the joint forces on December 18,” said freedom fighter Md Robiul Islam Robi, also a senior journalist.
Then the freedom fighters from different areas entered the district headquarters and hoisted the Bangladesh flag in the deputy commissioner's office, he said.
During the Liberation War the Pakistan occupation army with the help of their local collaborators killed several thousand innocent people and freedom fighters in different areas of the district.
They killed at least 900 people in Demra, 250 people in Sagarkandi and 400 people in Satbaria village of Sujanagar upazila, 200 people in Hadal of Faridpur upazila and over 200 people in Handial of Chatmohar upazila under the district.
Many other people were martyred in the hand of the barbaric forces in different areas of the district, said Md Habibur Rahman Habib, commander of Pabna district unit of Muktijoddha Sangsad.
Durjoy Pabna, a Liberation War memorial, was built on the premises of Pabna deputy commissioner's office in honour of the martyrs of the district.
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