<i>Lalmonirhat was freed on this day in 1971</i>
On this day in 1971, this northern border district was freed from the occupation of Pakistani forces. The district town was the Sector 6 headquarters of the freedom fighters (FF).
As Lalmonirhat was a railway divisional town, a large number of Biharis (Urdu-speaking people) lived here as railway employees.
During the war, Pakistani soldiers with the help of the Biharis easily attacked Bangalees and picked up local women and tortured them at camps.
Local Rajakars (collaborators) residing at Khata Para, Nayeker Tari, Station Colony, Gila Bari, Botrishhazari and Upyeard Colony villages used to help the Pakistani soldiers attack the freedom fighters.
These collaborators of the occupation forces also picked up Bengalees from the villages and killed them after brutal tortures.
Finally on the night of December 3, the freedom fighters led by Sector Commander Air Martial Khademul Bashar launched attacks on Pakistani soldiers at different places of the district, including Saptibari, Sarolkhan, Ambari and Gilabari areas.
The next day, more than 5o Pakistani soldiers gave in to FFs at Botrish Hazari and Fulgach villages, and the following day, another hundred soldiers surrendered at different points of the district.
Lalmonirhat was declared free on December 6 with the hoisting of national flag in the morning.
Commander of Lalmonirhat district Muktijodhdha Sangsad Yusuf Ali told this correspondent that the district town was a safe haven for Pakistani soldiers due to the presence of a large number of Biharis.
He alleged that around 19 percent freedom fighters in the district are still not getting proper honour as they are living under the acute poverty.
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