Thakurgaon was freed today

Today is December 3. On this day in 1971, valiant freedom fighters hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh in Thakurgaon town by defeating the Pakistan occupation forces.

According to local freedom fighters and elderly citizens of Thakurgaon, stiff resistance of freedom fighters restricted the occupation forces to enter Thakurgaon town till April 14, 1971 during the War of Liberation.

Former Thakurgaon District Muktijoddha Commander Md Badruddoza Badar said the occupation forces entered Thakurgaon on April 15, 1971 when freedom fighters took positions in nearby occupation-free Tentulia frontiers.

Thakurgaon was under the Sector no-6 during the War of Liberation under command of Sector Commander and valiant freedom fighter Squadron Leader M Khademul Bashar.

“As the ultimate victory was becoming obvious after liberation of Panchagarh on November 29, 1971, the demoralised Pakistani occupation army started to retreat from the northern frontiers and set up their camp at the then Thakurgaon EPR camp,” he said.

While retreating, the occupation forces blew up the ‘Bhulli’ Bridge on November 30 and planted underground mines at Salandar area near Thakurgaon town to create hindrance to entrance of the freedom fighters and allied forces.

“The freedom fighters and allied forces quickly repaired the ‘Bhulli’ Bridge and tried to enter Thakurgaon town. But, they faced severe obstructions due to underground mines placed in the area by the retreating occupation forces,” Badar added.

Former Thakurgaon District Deputy Muktijoddha Commander Abdul Mannan said two tanks of the allied forces were destroyed due to mine blasts at ‘Bhulli’ area and the other mines were soon removed under leadership of Muktijoddha Commander Mahbub Alam.

“Understanding their clear defeat, the Pakistani occupation forces retreated further and set up their base at the 25-Mile point on the Thakurgaon-Dinajpur road on December 2, 1971 after suffering from heavy shelling by the allied forces,” Mannan said.

Elderly citizens Advocate Syed Alam of Baliadangi upazila in Thakurgaon said the conquering freedom fighters and allied forces coming from Tentulia frontier in Panchagarh entered the soil of liberated Thakurgaon town on December 3.

Eyewitness Abdul Latif of Thakurgaon said thousands of people of Thakurgaon town and surrounding areas welcomed the freedom fighters and allied forces chanting the sky-cracking slogan of ‘Joy Bangla’ turning Thakurgaon into a place of euphoria.

“The freedom fighters and allied forces, after defeating the Pakistani army, and crushing their defenses at Panchagarh, Moidandighee, Boda and Bhulli, also entered Thakurgaon town from the northern side,” Latif said.

Former Ranisonkoil Upazila Muktijoddha Commander Sirajul Islam said many other contingents of freedom fighters coming from Atwari, Ruhea, Akhanagar, Baliadangi and Lahirihat also entered Thakurgaon town from the western side on the day.