Lalmonirhat freed on this day in 1971

The northern border district Lalmonirhat was freed from Pakistan army on this day in 1971.

Burimari Hasor Uddin High School in Lalmonirhat's Patgram upazila was the Sector 6 headquarters during the country's Liberation War.

Freedom Fighter Shafiqul Islam Mantu, now 71, a resident of Thana Road in the town, told our correspondent that getting message from Sector 6 Commander Air Martial Khademul Bashar on December 3, freedom fighters attacked Pakistani soldiers at different points of the district.

"Facing the attacks, Pakistani soldiers and their associates fled from Lalmonirhat and damaged a part of Lalmonirhat's Teesta Railway Bridge through bombing on December 5," said Shafiqul, a platoon commander during the war.

"We declared Lalmonirhat free from the Pakistani army at dawn on December 6 and we hoisted our national flag while shouting 'Joy Bangla'," said Abu Bakkar, former commander of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad Command.

Former commander of Lalmonirhat District Muktijoddha Sangsad Command, Freedom Fighter Mezbah Uddin Ahmed, said that freedom fighters with assistance of Indian army repaired the damaged Teesta Railway Bridge.

Freedom Fighter Abdul Karim, 75, a retired railway employee in Lalmonirhat town, said, "Urdu speaking Bihari people who lived there, attacked Bangalees and picked up, tortured women in their camps during the war."