<i>Tribute to 27 FFs martyred at Kamanna</i>
Freedom fighters in Jhenidah and Magura yesterday paid glowing tributes to 27 freedom fighters who were brutally killed by Pakistani soldiers on November 26 during the War of Liberation in 1971, report our correspondents.
On the night of November 25 that year, a group of freedom fighters took shelter at the houses of Madhab Chandra and Shamila Begum at Kamanna village in Shailakupa upazila of Jhenidah district.
In the early hours of November 26, the occupation Pakistani soldiers and their collaborators suddenly attacked the village bordering former Jhenidah and Magura sub-divisions and gunned down 27 valiant sons of the soil.
As most of the martyred freedom fighters were from Hajipur, a monument was built there in 1999 to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of the war heroes.
Recalling the day, Magura district unit of Muktijoddha Sangsad held a discussion on the premises of the monument yesterday.
Presided over by the commander of district unit Muktijoddha Sangsad Molla Nabuat Ali, the speakers urged the government to provide assistance to the members of the families of Kamanna heroes.
Earlier, the freedom fighters brought out a procession and placed wreaths at the monument in the morning.
In Jhenidah, Rahmat Ali Monto, valiant freedom fighter and commander of Shailkupa upazila unit, told our correspondent that though no battle took place at Kamanna, 27 fighters had to sacrifice their lives because of the conspiracy of local Rajakars.
A group of 42 freedom fighters fought against Pakistani forces all day long in order to free Magura and Sreepur and after the day's hard struggle, they reached Kamanna, Rahmat Ali recalled.
Walking a long way, they got tired and took shelter at two houses at the village and fell asleep at dead of night.
Local Rajakars, who were looking for the freedom fighters, informed the temporary Army camp at Jhenidah Cadet College and Pakistani camp in Magura Sadar.
Within minutes, Pakistan occupation forces marched towards Kamanna along with Rajakar Abdur Razzak and surrounded the freedom fighters' temporary camp and started to open fire at Madhab Bhoumik's tin-shed house from all sides.
A pall of gloom descended upon the locals in the morning when they found that 27 freedom fighters were killed.
Thousands of people in tears buried the bodies by the side of the Kumar River, Rahmat Ali said.
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