Phulbari was freed on this day in '71

On this day in 1971, people of Phulbari upazila in the district tasted freedom after the freedom fighters defeated the Pakistani occupation forces and hoisted the national flag as a mark of victory at the then headquarters.

Various programmes have been chalked out to mark the day, said locals and organisers.

The Pakistani occupation forces made a quick getaway from Phulbari on that day with the entrance of Indian allied force.

People came to the upazila town and rejoiced the victory, chanting slogans 'Joy Bangla', accompanying hundreds of freedom fighters of the area.

Following the crackdown in Dhaka on March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani army carried out arson attacks, looting, and killings of innocent Bangalees in the upazila with the help of their local collaborators in Phulbari like other areas of the country.

The massacre also forced many people to leave the area for safer places. Many of them took refuge in India.

On April 2, the occupation forces shelled heavily and entered Phulbari, Birampur, Nawabganj, Hakimpur and Ghoraghat upazilas and looted and torched the houses in the area. They also raped women and teenage girls.

In early December 1971, local freedom fighters launched a massive attack on the Pakistani occupation forces.

The fierce fighting intensified further after the Indian forces joined the freedom fighters. Finally they compelled Pakistani army to retreat.

Freedom fighter commander Monsur Ali Sarker hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at Phulbari C&B Bungalow in presence of Major PK Singh of Indian forces on the day.