RANGPUR, Nov 29, 2018 (BSS) – The sub-Himalayan district town of Panchagarh today turned jubilant as common people celebrated the Panchagarh Freedom Day-2018 through day-long colourful programmes amid huge enthusiasm and festivity.
The victorious freedom fighters along with Indian allied forces and thousands of people hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh in Panchagarh town after defeating the Pakistani occupation forces on this day (November 29, 1971).
The Panchagarh district administration jointly with district command of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad (BMS) organised various programmes to celebrate the day.
The celebration began with placing wreaths at mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the Circuit House premises followed by bringing out of a huge rally on the streets.
Led by Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh Sabina Yasmin, freedom fighters, government and NGO officials, students, teachers and sociocultural, political and professional activists and common people participated in the rally.
Participants of the rally also placed wreaths at the ‘Shaheed Muktijoddha Smritistambha’ and ‘Baddhyabhumi Smritistambha’ at different places while parading the streets of Panchagarh town.
Later, Deputy Commissioner Sabina Yasmin attended the post-rally discussion held at Muktijoddha Complex auditorium with Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mohammad Golam Azam in the chair.
Superintendent of Police (SP) for Panchagarh Giasuddin Ahmed, deputy commander of district unit of BMS Waresul Quraeshi, its Sadar Thana unit commander Ismail Hossain addressed as special guests.
War-wounded freedom fighter Jahirul Islam, freedom fighters Shaykhul Islam, Sharif Hossain and Alauddin Prodhan addressed the discussion narrating unprecedented heroism and bravery of the freedom fighters in liberating Panchagarh on November 29, 1971.
Freedom fighter Jahirul Islam said the freedom fighters and Indian allied forces intensified attacks on the occupation army since middle of November in 1971 from three sides of Panchagarh and started capturing one after another enemy camps.
“We captured Amarkhana camp of the occupation forces on November 20, Jagdalhat on November 25, Shingpara on November 26, Talma on November 27, and CO Office, Atwari, and Mirzapur camps on November 28 and liberated Panchagarh on November 29,” he said.
Freedom fighters Ismail Hossain urged all citizens to take oath for celebrating 100 years of birth anniversary of Architect of Independence Bangabandhu in 2020 and the golden jubilee of independence in 2021 with huge enthusiasm and festivity.
SP Giasuddin Ahmed paid rich tribute to the martyred freedom fighters and expressed deep gratitude to the freedom fighters for disseminating many unknown information in the discussion about the War of Liberation to the new generations.
Expressing her deep gratitude to the heroic freedom fighters for their bravery in liberating Panchagarh by defeating the occupation forces on November 29, 1971, the chief guest called for working unitedly for building a developed ‘Sonar Bangla’ to materialise dream of the martyred freedom fighters.
Later, a cultural function with participation of local artistes, sociocultural and literary personalities was arranged at the Government Auditorium in Panchagarh district town in the evening.