RANGPUR, Dec 02, 2018 (BSS) – The triumphant freedom fighters along with
the allied forces valiantly liberated Thakurgaon town from the Pakistan
occupation forces giving the local people a taste of ultimate freedom on
December 3, 1971.
Talking to BSS, local freedom fighters and elderly citizens said Thakurgaon
town remained occupation free till April 14 as the Pakistani occupation
forces failed to enter into Thakurgaon following stiff resistance of the
freedom fighters.
“But, the occupation forces entered Thakurgaon with heavy armaments on
April 15 when the freedom fighters took positions in occupation-free Tentulia
frontiers,” said former Deputy Commander of Thakurgaon District Muktijoddha
Sangshad Abdul Mannan.
Thakurgaon was under the Sector no-6 during the War of Liberation under
command of Sector Commander Squadron Leader M. Khademul Bashar.
“When the ultimate victory started becoming imminent after liberation of
Panchagarh on November 29, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces began to
retreat from the northern frontiers and set up their camp at the then
Thakurgaon EPR camp,” Mannan said.
During the retreat, the occupation forces blew up the ‘Bhulli’ Bridge on
November 30 and planted dozens of mines at Salandar area near Thakurgaon to
create hindrance to entrance of the freedom fighters and Indian allied
forces.
“The freedom fighters and allied forces quickly repaired the ‘Bhulli’
Bridge and tried to enter Thakurgaon town. But, they faced obstruction due to
mines placed in the area by the retreating occupation forces,” Mannan added.
Former Ranisonkoil Upazila Muktijoddha Commander Sirajul Islam said two
tanks of the allied forces were destroyed due to mine blasts at ‘Bhulli’ area
and the mines were soon removed under leadership of Muktijoddha Commander
Mahbub Alam.
“Understanding their unambiguous defeat, the Pakistani occupation forces
retreated further and set up their base at the 25-Mile point on the
Thakurgaon-Dinajpur highway on December 2, 1971 after heavy shelling by the
allied forces, Islam said.
Elderly citizens Advocate Syed Alam of Baliadangi, Abdul Mannan of village
Bhandara and Mohsin Ali Sarker of Haripur said the triumphant freedom
fighters and allied forces coming from Tentulia frontier entered Thakurgaon
town on December 3.
Eyewitness Abdul Latif of Thakurgaon town said thousands of the common
people of Thakurgaon town and surrounding areas welcomed the freedom fighters
and allied forces chanting slogan ‘Joy Bangla’ all-around.
“The freedom fighters and allied forces, after defeating the Pakistani
army, and crushing their defenses at Panchagarh, Moidandighee, Boda and
Bhulli, also entered Thakurgaon from the northern side,” he said.
Afterwards, other contingents of the freedom fighters coming from Atwari,
Ruhea, Akhanagar, Baliadangi and Lahirihat also entered Thakurgaon town from
the western side on the day.
“The freedom fighters along with thousands of common people paraded
different roads of Thakurgaon town chanting victory slogan of ‘Joy Bangla’
and hoisted the victory flag at Chowrasta Mour of the town,” Latif said.
The Thakurgaon district administration jointly with the district unit of
Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad and other organisations will observe the
Thakurgaon Freedom Day-2018 through day-long colourful programmes tomorrow.