MYMENSINGH, Dec 9 (BSS)- Mymensingh was freed on December 10 in 1971. On this day in 1971 freedom fighters led by Principal Motiur Rahman, now Minister for Religious Affairs and allied forces, marched towards Mymensingh town.
They crossed Shambuganj ferry ghat in the morning and marched towards circuit house ground chanting the slogan ‘Joy Bangla’.
On hearing the news of entering of the freedom fighters hundreds of people from all walks of life including family members of the freedom fighters and their relatives stood on both sides of the road from circuit house to thana ghat to greet the worriers.
The hundreds of freedom fighters and allied forces controlled Mymensingh town as after reaching the circuit house ground valiant freedom fighter, organiser and chief of Jubo Shibir Motiur Rahman declared Mymensingh free from the clutches of Pak occupation army through hoisting the flag of independent Bangladesh in presence of hundreds of freedom fighters and people of all ages.
Marking the day, Muktijuddaha Sangsad Mymensingh District Command and Mymensingh District Administration have taken a week long programme at Mukta Moncha of town’s Chhoto Bazar area.
The programme begins tomorrow (Sunday) and will end on December 16 and Minister for Religious Affairs principal Motiur Rahman will inaugurate it, said sources.
The week long programmes include bringing up of a colourful rally on December 10 morning, discussion meetings on War of Liberation and cultural shows.
Different political and socio-cultural organizations have also taken elaborate programmes marking the day, Muktijuddah district command sources said.
First, the invaders tried to enter into the district by trains from Dhaka. Having failed in those attempts, they tried through river routes to take over the control of the district town, a middle point of Mymensingh region. These attempts too backfired. At last they attempted to reach Mymensingh town through Madhupur of Tangail district.
On April 17 in 1971, a fierce battle was fought between the Pak Army and the freedom fighters at Kalihati in Tangail. The battle continued for five days without any break. It was the first fierce battle between the freedom fighters and the occupation Pak Army in this region. However, with the help of sophisticated and superior weapons, the Pak Army managed to set their foot in Mymensingh town on April 22. The freedom fighters built their strong hold at frontier Haluaghat Upazila of the district. Many fierce battles were fought in Haluaghat during the nine-month long bloody battle.
Between May and November in 1971, the freedom fighters and the Pakistan Army locked in many encounters at different places of the district and its surrounding areas.
On December 7 in 1971, the freedom fighters freed Haluaghat from the occupation Pak Army and on December 8, Phulpur and Bhaluka Upazilas were freed followed by the liberation of Gouripur, Trishal, Iswarganj and Tarakanda areas. The brave freedom fighters forced the invaders to retreat from their many occupied areas in the district.
A Liberation War Memorial titled “Muktijuddah Smiriti Saudha” was built on the bank of the Brahmaputra River in the town in 2000 to keep alive the memory of the freedom fighters and martyrs.