Free Mirpur Day today

Today is Free Mirpur Day.
The capital's Mirpur, known as the last battlefield of the country, was liberated on January 31, 1972, about one and a half months after Bangladesh formally won the victory.
Although the Pakistan army formally surrendered on December 16, 1971, thousands of people of Mirpur experienced domination of Pakistani army and armed non-Bangalees until January 30, 1972.
After his homecoming on January 10, 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ordered the Pakistani occupation army and the non-Bangalees, who remained in hiding in Mirpur area, to surrender but they did not.
As a combined force of army and police approached Mirpur-12 on January 30, 1972, the hidden force launched an attack, killing almost all members of the force.
Eminent filmmaker Zahir Raihan was also killed on that day when he went to Mirpur to find out his brother Shahidullah Kaiser, who was abducted by Al-Badr days before December 16, 1971.
On January 31, 1972, Bangladesh army intensified operation in Mirpur and liberated the area.
Different socio-cultural organisations will organise elaborate programmes marking the day.
Meanwhile, Shaheed Lt Selim Shikhalaya observed the death anniversary of Selim Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, who was martyred in Mirpur on January 30, 1972, through a daylong programme yesterday.