Manikganj celebrates its liberation day today

12 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Martyrs' memorial set up in front of Shahid Miraz-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj town has the names of only 35 martyrs as the authorities are yet to prepare a complete list of freedom fighters who made supreme sacrifices to free the district from Pakistani occupation forces.Photo: STAR

People of Manikganj district will observe today (December 13) as 'Manikganj liberation day'. Declaring the district (the then sub-division) free from Pakistani occupation forces, heroic freedom fighters hoisted national flag atop the Primary Training Institute at Manikganj on this day in 1971. Under the leadership of Captain Abdul Halim Chowdhury, the freedom-loving people of Manikganj prepared to resist the Pakistani army in March 1971. A day after the declaration of independence on March 26, freedom fighters took firearms from Manikganj Treasury and started training. As the Pak forces captured important establishments, entered different areas of the district and killed many innocent people, freedom fighters formed 'Biplobi Parishad' at Kowri village in Harirampur upazila. Divided into several groups, they engaged in several fights with the occupation forces. Eighty-two Pak soldiers were killed and 50 others held with injuries in a fierce battle with freedom fighters led by engineer Tobarak Hossain Ludu, Lokman Hakim and Zahidur Rahman at Golaidanga village in Singair upazila on October 28. A resident of Gilondo village in Manikganj Sadar upazila, Ibrahim (later honoured with gallantry award Bir Protik) led a very successful operation and blew up Siddhirganj Power House. On November 11, Pak forces attacked Terosree village in Ghior upazila and killed 43 people including Terosree College principal Atiar Rahman and Siddheswary Prosad Roy Chowdhury, a former zaminder of the area. In the last week of November in 1971, fresh groups of freedom fighters entered different areas of Manikganj and defeated Pakistani troops in a few battles. Finally they declared the then sub-division free on December 13. The martyrs' memorial in front of Shahid Miraz-Tapan Stadium contains names of only 35 martyrs as full list of the freedom fighters has not been made even after 38 years of Liberation War, said freedom fighter Lokman Hakim. Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Parisad has organised a 15-day-long 'Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela' from today on the occasion of Manikganj free day, according to our correspondent. Jute and Textile Minister freedom fighter Abdul Latif Siddiqui will attend the inaugural function as the chief guest at 3:00pm. Besides photo exhibition on Liberation War, there will be 300 stalls with food items, toys, musical instruments, clothes, books and other things, said the organisers at a press conference at Manikganj Press Club yesterday. Discussions on the Liberation War have been arranged on the occasion. Jatra, puppet show, pala gaan, theatre, cultural competitions, lawn tennis, cricket, football and marathon are other attractions of the fair. Meanwhile, a week-long victory fair was inaugurated on Pabna Town Hall premises yesterday afternoon by state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, reports our correspondent. It followed a colourful victory day procession that paraded the town. The victory fair is being participated by 35 social and cultural organisations of Pabna.