MANIKGANJ, Dec 12, 2025(BSS) - People of all walks of lives will celebrate 
"Manikganj Free Day" tomorrow (December 13) amid much enthusiasm and in a 
befitting manner.
 
On December 13, 1971, Manikganj district was liberated from the clutches of 
Pakistani occupational forces, just three days before the final victory of 
the nation on December 16.
 
On this day, Pakistan occupational forces retreated from Manikganj in the 
face of fierce attack by the valiant Freedom Fighters (FF) near Manora Bridge 
on Dhaka-Aricha HighWay. 

The brutal killing of one of the heroic FFs named Chand Mia, Manora in the 
front war is still vivid in the memories of those who fought for the cause of 
their motherland.
 
The Pakistani Army also left the Primary Training Institute (PTI), the main 
camp of them, with bag and baggage and moved towards Dhaka and later FFs took 
the control of the camp which was established in April, 1971. 
 
On December 13 when the Pakistan Army moving towards Dhaka leaving Manikganj, 
firstly people could not believe, then a message reached to the Freedom 
Fighters that a big contingent of the occupational army moving towards Dhaka 
through the southern part of Manikganj, the Freedom fighters started to 
gather in Manikganj. 

In the evening some of the Freedom Fighters gathered at the Debendra College 
Play Ground and the victory was declared by Khandakar Mozharul Haque Chand 
Mia, member of Provincial Assembly also the President of Awami League 
Manikganj Sub-Division unit.
 
Captain Abdul Halim Chowdhury who was the Commander of Freedom Fighters of 
Dhaka South-West area and conducted a lot of fights against the Pakistan army 
could not attend the immediate gathering.
 
Pakistan Army killed hundreds of innocent Bengali people picking up from 
different areas of the Sub-Division and left their bodies in the river 
Kaliganga at Taraghat from the ferries in dark nights.
 
A lot of women of the Muslims and the Hindu communities were picked up from 
different areas and were gang-raped by the Pakistani Army. Common people even 
started avoiding passing through the camp area to save their lives.
 
Pakistan Army in collaboration with their local agents forced hundreds of 
Hindu people to convert to Muslim in the then Sub-Division including 
Manikganj town. After liberation most of them returned to their own religion. 
The elderly people who observed the situation still remember it with great 
pain.

Marking the Manikganj liberation day, a fortnight Bijoy Mela (Victory Fair) 
started from December 13 had been continuing from 1991 during the first 
government of Begum Khaleda Zia led BNP which remained suspended after 
falling of the autocratic government.