Hakimpur celebrates day of freedom without memorial
Freedom fighters and locals bring out a procession in Munshiganj town yesterday, marking the district's 40th anniversary of liberation. On this day in 1971, the area was freed from Pakistani occupation forces.Photo: STAR
The people of bordering Hakimpur upazila in the district yesterday celebrated the 40th anniversary of its liberation from Pakistan occupation army. On December 11 in 1971, the Indian allied army aided by the freedom fighters forced Pakistan troops to retreat, following fierce fighting for days in Hilli under the upazila. But no monument has been made in memory of the 345 Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lived in the battle of Hilli. After the Pakistan army started crackdown on the freedom-loving Bangalees on March 26 in 1971, the occupation force created a strong base at Muhara in Hilli area. Freedom fighters fought several fierce fights with the Pakistani troops in the area while the barbaric forces with the help of their local collaborators killed many innocent people, said Motiur Rahman, a freedom fighter of Dinajpur. The fights between Indian and Pakistan armies in early December left at least 345 Indian troops killed and 1100 others wounded in Hilli area, said local freedom fighters and liberation war researchers. Marking the day, upazila unit of Muktijoddha Sangsad organised various programmes including procession, discussion and milad mahfil. Liakat Ali, upazila unit commander of the freedom fighters association, led a festival procession at the upazila headquarters in the morning. He also chaired a discussion held at Hilli Bazar in Hakimpur upazila in the afternoon. Hakimpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tofazzal Hossain, upazila parishad Chairman Azizul Rahman and several freedom fighters spoke at the meeting. Different mosques and temples in Hilli area arranged special prayers in the evening. "Despite an earlier decision to build a monument in memory of the contribution of Indian troops at Muhara village in Hili, it is yet to see implementation," said freedom fighter Liakat Ali. Freedom fighters in the upazila have demanded that the government take early steps for building a Liberation War monument in Hilli area.
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