FFs freed Magura, Gopalganj, Gaibandha on this day

6 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Martyrs' memorial at Nomani Maidan in Magura town. Inset, Akbar Hossain Mian, chief of Sreepur Bahini that freed the town from Pakistani occupation forces on December 7 in 1971. PHOTO: STAR

Today is December 7. On this day in 1971, valiant freedom fighters aided by the Indian allied forces freed Magura, Gopalganj and Gaibandha from the Pakistan occupation forces. As Pakistani occupation forces and their collaborators fled Magura in the face of serious attack by freedom fighters and Indian allied forces on December 7, people in thousands took to the streets to rejoice the occasion. Pakistani occupation army entered the then sub-divisional town Magura on April 23, 1971 and went on an orgy of killing and destruction. The freedom fighters also formed strong resistance and during the next several months a number of fights took place between freedom fighters and Pak army and their local collaborators in the area. On December 6, Sreepur Bahini led by valiant freedom fighters Akbar Hossain Mian and Molla Nabuot Ali attacked Pakistani troops at Magura. At the same time, Indian forces made fierce air attack on the occupation army, forcing them to flee. To mark the day, Magura district unit of Muktijoddha Sangsad has taken up various programmes including placing of floral wreaths at the martyrs' memorial, rally and discussion. Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: Gaibandha was freed on December 7 in 1971 as the Pakistan occupation forces left for Dhaka in the face of attacks by freedom fighters and Indian allied forces. Bombardment by Indian air force during the previous three day caused panic among the Pakistani forces in the area. The freedom fighters also launched several operations. On December 6 afternoon, Indian forces advanced to Gaibandha from Hili with a tank regiment and reached Pirganj and Palashbari by evening. By the time, the occupation forces fled the areas. In the morning on December 7, Mahbub Elahi (Bir Pratik) entered Gaibandha town with a large group of freedom fighters while two other groups reached Sunderganj and Saghata. On that day, Pakistan occupation forces left all their camps in Gaibandha district. Freedom fighters together with local people will bring out a procession in Gaibandha town and hold a discussion on the occasion. A Correspondent adds from Gopalganj: On December 7 in 1971, hundreds of freedom fighters accompanied by common people entered Gopalganj town and brought out a victory procession as the Pakistani occupation forces fled the area. Shortly after the declaration of independence on March 26, local freedom fighters collected arms from the treasury with the cooperation of the then sub-divisional officer Shamsul Majid and kept Gopalganj free for over a month. On April 30, the Pak army entered the town, burnt the house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and killed a number of freedom fighters and local people, especially those of Hindu community. They set up a 'mini cantonment' at Joi Bangla Pukur Par where they tortured and killed a number of freedom fighters and pro-liberation people. Fearing attack by the freedom fighters and the Indian allied forces, the Pak army left the area and retreated towards Dhaka on the night of December 6.