<i>Panchagarh was freed on this day in '71</i>
The memorial for the martyrs of 1971 war in Panchagarh town.Photo: STAR
On this day in 1971, valiant freedom fighters hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh in Panchagarh town by defeating the Pakistan occupation forces. To mark the day, district unit of Muktujoddha Sangsad has taken up a number of programmes including hoisting national and organisational flags in the morning at its unit offices in the district, placing wreaths at the martyrs' memorial, holding colourful procession from Muktijoddha Chattar in the town and discussion meeting and cultural function. Different political parties and social organisations have also taken similar programmes to mark the occasion. On 20 November 1971, the freedom fighters intensified attack on the Pakistani occupation army from three corners of the town. Gradually they took control of the camps of Pakistani occupation forces -- Amarkhana on 20 November, Jagdalhat on 25 November, Shingpara village on 26 November, Talma village on 27 Novemver and Panchagarh CO Office, Atwary, Mirzapur on 28 November. In the face of joint attack by the freedom fighters and allied forces the previous night, finally the Pakistani occupation forces retreated from the distrit town on November 28 night and took shelter at Saidpur Cantonment. Freedom fighters entered the town on November 29 morning. As the news spread, people from the adjacent villages rushed to the town and rejoiced liberation of their motherland by chanting slogans 'Joy Bangla' with the freedom fighters. Shortly after the Pakistani occupation forces started crackdown in capital Dhaka on March 26 in 1971, freedom-loving people of Panchagarh brought out protest processions. They observed different programmes and aided the struggle for independence until 16 April. Panchagarh was free from Pakistani occupation army till 16 April in 1971. Later the occupation forces took control of the town and made several camps in different areas of the then Panchagarh PS under Thakurgaon Sub-division. During the next several months, the Pakistan forces and their collaborators killed a large number of innocent people in the district.
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