Rajshahi had to wait two more days to taste freedom
Although the nation achieved the final victory over Pakistan occupation forces on December 16 in 1971, the people of Rajshahi had to wait two more days to get the real taste of freedom.
On December 17 in 1971, the Pakistani forces withdrew from different important points of the town as well as the cantonment and took shelter at their strategic camp set up at Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall of Rajshahi University.
The freedom fighters were still to enter the town.
However, thousands of people started taking to streets.
On the night of December 17, the Pakistani forces fled to Natore where they surrendered to the Indian allied forces on December 20.
On December 18 morning, the townspeople captured the last camp of Pakistani forces at Shamsuzzoha Hall.
They rescued a number of injured people including many tortured women from there.
On March 3 in 1971, the local people started fighting with Pakistani forces. On March 28, the occupation forces killed a number of policemen at Rajshahi Police Lines for their refusal to surrender arms.
The freedom fighters under leadership of the then Captain Giasuddin Chowdhury and Captain Rashid started resisting the occupation army, forcing them to remain confined to Rajshahi cantonment for 10 days from April 3 and 13.
On April 13, a large contingent of Pakistani army from Dhaka broke the freedom fighters' resistance. During the following months, the occupation forces committed massacre and torture on freedom-loving people.
After December 18, locals found out a number of mass graves around Rajshahi town and in different upazilas of the area.
Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad and Muktijoddha Command Council organised various programmes including discussions, photo exhibitions and cultural functions.
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