Pabna, Rajshahi were freed two days after final victory

People of Pabna and Rajshahi districts got the taste of freedom on this day in 1971, two days after the nation’s final victory.
On December 18, the valiant freedom fighters of Pabna declared the district free by hoisting the national flag of independent Bangladesh atop the deputy commissioner’s office, reports our correspondent.
They entered the district on this day along with the of Indian army and declared the area free after nine months of liberation war.
The following day, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to Captain Nanda, an Indian army officer, said Md Babi Islam, commander of freedom fighters in the district.
Earlier, they were barred from entering the area as the Pakistani army put up barricade on the entrances while the whole country was freed from the enemy forces on December 16.
In Rajshahi, the district was freed through the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces in Natore on December 18 in 1971, reports our correspondent.
The enemy forces took shelter at strategic camp at Rajshahi University’s Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall, where they left marks of inhuman tortures and atrocities.
The Pakistani troops fled Natore on the very night of December 17 in the face of strong resistance by freedom fighters and the following morning, the FFs and locals took control over the camp.
The Pakistani forces were later forced to surrender to the allied forces in Natore on December 20.
Meanwhile, the 43rd Victory Day was observed in Chuadanga district amid great enthusiasm on Monday, reports our correspondent.
The district administration and different political and socio-cultural organisations had separate programmes on the occasion, said organisers.