Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, March 28, 2026 (BSS) - Deep tributes were paid today to the martyrs 
who sacrificed their lives while encircling the Rangpur Cantonment in an 
attempt to capture it from Pakistani occupation forces on March 28, 1971.
 
Just three days after the start of the great Liberation War, on this day in 
1971, fearless brave people surrounded the Cantonment with indigenous weapons 
like bamboo sticks, bows and arrows, axes and spears, creating a unique 
history. 
 
While participating in this uneven battle, at least 500 to 600 independence-
seeker Bengali Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, Oraon, Santal and other ethnic 
communities laid down lives setting up a unique example of national unity, 
heroism and bravery. 
 
Today, high officials of the administrations and freedom fighters placed 
wreaths at "Rakta Gaurab" memorial at Nishbetganj by in the morning paying 
rich tribute to the heroic Bengalese who embraced martyrdom on that day. 
 
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Abdul Motaleb Sarkar with 
high-ranking officials of the divisional administration first placed wreaths 
there.
 
Later, Rangpur Range DIG Aminul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Police 
Commissioner Md Majid Ali, Deputy Commissioner Md Enamul Ahsan, Additional 
Superintendent of Police Md Joynal Abedin, Rangpur Sadar Upazila Executive 
Officer Md Saiful Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Muktijoddha Sangsad Command 
Unit Convener Bir Muktijoddha Nur Mohammad Mia and Member-Secretary Bir 
Muktijoddha Mohammad Abdus Sattar, along with representatives of various 
government departments, educational institutions and social organisations, 
placed wreaths.
 
Later, teachers and students of 'Bir Muktijoddha Tayebur Rahman High School', 
Jamison Nesa High School, Nisbetganj Government Primary School and other 
institutions placed wreaths at the "Rakta Gaurab" memorial.
 
After placing wreaths, they offered special munajats seeking divine 
forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs who laid down their lives there on 
March 28, 1971.
 
Talking to BSS today, former Rangpur District Commander of Bangladesh 
Muktijoddha Sangsad and heroic freedom fighter Md Manjurul Islam described 
the Cantonment encirclement as an infinite heroic story of bravery of Rangpur 
people.
 
From that morning, thousands of students, farmers, daily wage workers, and 
people of all professions, regardless of religion or caste, from different 
areas including Rangpur Sadar, Gangachara, Badarganj and Mithapukur upazila 
areas gathered in the Nisbetganj area with indigenous weapons. 
 
"Especially the brave indigenous Santal and Oraon community people came to 
surround the cantonment with bows and arrows," said Manjurul Islam. 
 
In the afternoon, thousands of people started moving towards the cantonment 
from the Nishbetganj area on the Ghagot river bank when the Pakistani army 
opened fire with machine guns in the afternoon. 
 
"In just 5 minutes, the area was paralyzed. Hundreds of bodies were lying on 
the banks of the Ghagot River there. Those who were still alive were stabbed 
to death with bayonets," he said. 
 
Major Nasir Uddin of the 29th Cavalry Regiment, who was an eyewitness to the 
incident and was working in Rangpur Cantonment at that time, has narrated 
these facts in his historic book 'Juddhe Juddhe Swadhinota' (Freedom in War). 
 
He describes, "The sky and air of the entire area became heavy with the cries 
of the wounded. Before evening that day, as ordered, hundreds of bodies were 
doused with petrol and set on fire." 
 
The fire burned brightly. This fire was much redder than any other fire. This 
flame burns much more intensely. 
 
"I saw that fire from very close quarters. I saw how helpless freedom-loving 
human beings were burning," he wrote.
 
"The independence-seeker Bengali Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, Oraon, Santal 
and other ethnic communities equipped with sharp weapons, spears, arrows and 
bows attempted to capture the Cantonment," the book wrote. 
 
"It was about 4 to 5 pm when thousands of independence-seeker Bangalees had 
been assembling from the south and southwestern areas to capture the 
cantonment at any cost," the book says. 
 
"The 23rd Brigade Headquarters of the Pakistani Army was then stationed at 
Rangpur cantonment and the 3rd Bengal, 26th Regiment at Saidpur, 23rd Cavalry 
Regiment and its associate forces and 29th Tank Bahini were under its 
command," the book wrote. 
 
Brigadier General Abdullah Malik was the then Brigade Commander and the 
cantonment was equipped with modern automatic heavy arms, artillery, tanks 
and ammunition with huge Pakistani forces and non-Bengali Beharis. 
 
The Pakistani forces and the Beharis soon showered automatic gunfire towards 
the independence-seeker Bangalees killing over 600 of them in the most 
heinous genocide there and injuring hundreds more. 
 
"The vast green grass fields on the Ghagot river bank turned into a blood-
sea. The war criminals Brigadier General Malik, Colonel Sagir and non-Bengali 
Bihari soldiers and officers, committed the fearful genocide," the book 
mentioned.