Kurigram liberated on December 6, 1971

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RANGPUR, Dec 5, 2020 (BSS) – The dominant freedom fighters and allied
forces bravely liberated Kurigram by defeating and driving away the
occupation forces bringing the taste of ultimate liberty to the local people
on December 6, 1971.

The flag of Independent Bangladesh was hoisted by the freedom fighters led
by Company Commander Abdul Hye (Bir Pratik) on December 6 on the soil of
Kurigram although the final national victory was not achieved till that date.

Talking to BSS, former Kurigram district unit Commander of Bangladesh
Muktijoddha Sangsad (BMS) Sirajul Islam Tuku said the occupation forces lost
moral courage in the fierce battles since December 1, 1971 in Kurigram town
with the freedom fighters.

“The freedom fighters started conducting ceaseless attacks on the
Pakistani occupation forces in Kurigram town from all sides after crossing
the river Dharla from December 1 to December 5 causing huge casualties to the
enemies,” he said.

The Pakistani occupation forces had to suffer casualties in those battles
with the freedom fighters round the clock, especially on December 4 and
December 5, making the victory evident.

Freedom fighter Mohammad Shahabuddin said the Indian allied forces
conducted air attacks on the Pakistani occupation forces in Kurigram town on
December 5 breaking their backbone and forcing them to surrender or retreat.

“Failing to sustain the repeated fierce attacks of the freedom fighters
and allied forces, the Pakistani occupation army started leaving Kurigram
town by train since December 6 morning with firing in the air in fear of the
freedom fighters,” he added.

Freedom fighter Harun Ar Rashid Lal said Kurigram was under sector-6 and
sector-11 during the whole period of the War of Liberation and freedom
fighter Abdul Hye (Bir Pratik) was the Company Commander of sub-sector No-1
under sector-6.

“During the War of Liberation, the training camp for the freedom fighters
was located at the occupation free Roumari area that was detached from the
mainland by the Brahmaputra,” he added.

Under the leadership of Hye, the Pakistani army’s strong bases began to
collapse following the capture of their Bhurungamari, Nageswari, Chilmari and
Ulipur camps by the freedom fighters one after another since the end of
November.

“Finding no other alternative, the retreating Pakistani army then
established their bases in Kurigram town and the freedom fighters decisively
surrounded the town from all directions on December 6 and freed the Kurigram
town,” Lal mentioned while talking in this regards.

Shawkat Ali Sarker (Bir Bikram) said the freedom fighters, who participated
in the last moment battles to free Kurigram town 49 years ago, became
impatient to cherish memory of those fierce battles and victories against the
Pakistani occupation forces.

Thousands of emancipated people gathered on the victory march to welcome
the triumphant freedom fighters who entered Kurigram town under the
leadership of Abdul Hye (Bir Pratik) at 4 pm on December 6, 1971.

“Later, Abdul Hye hoisted the flag of Independent Bangladesh on the
overhead water tank in Kurigram town in presence of thousands of common
people and freedom fighters,” Sarker added.

Kurigram district unit of BMS, different socio-cultural and professional
organisations and political parties have chalked out limited programmes in
the wake of the coronavirus pandemic to celebrate the Kurigram Freedom Day-
2020 tomorrow (December 6).