Victory became evident in Rangpur since Dec

The freedom fighters with Indian allied forces started defeating the Pakistani army liberating Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, making the ultimate victory evident since the beginning of December 1971 in the Rangpur region.

After fleeing from Panchagarh on November 29 and Thakurgaon on December 2 at the unstoppable advancement of the freedom fighters, the occupation army continued retreating from their bases in the northern region.

Former Rangpur District Muktijoddha Commander Mosaddek Hossain said the victory became obvious when decisive fights of the freedom fighters and allied forces started defeating and pushing back the occupation army from Rangpur region.

“The crucial struggles for independence sparked in Rangpur from the beginning of March, 1971 when people began showing stiff resistance against the occupation army to achieve the ultimate independence,” he said.

He said the unconquerable Bangalee nation guessed the conspiracy of Yahiya Khan, who cancelled on March 1, the scheduled parliament sitting on March 3 and declared a curfew on the day in 1971.

Rejecting annulment of the scheduled parliament session, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called strike on March 2 in Dhaka and March 3 across the country when people of the Rangpur region started mobilising rapidly.

“Thousands of people brought out protest processions breaking the curfew in Rangpur on March 3 challenging the Pakistani regime,” Hossain said.

The crucial struggles actually began in Rangpur from March 3, 1971 when minor boy Sangku Samajhder, 12, embraced martyrdom as non-Bengali Sarforaz Khan opened gunfire on him in the massive protest procession at 9 am.

The martyrdom of Sangku and two other brave sons on March 3 in Rangpur turned the city volatile when the Pakistani regime declared a curfew from March 3 to 5 in the city.

“Bangabandhu in his historic March 7 Speech in 1971 mentioned martyrdoms of heroic Rangpur sons on March 3,” Hossain said.

Valiant freedom fighter Matiar Rahman said Convener of Rangpur unit of Chhatra Sangram Parishad Rafikul Islam Golap received the flag of ‘Swadhin Bangla’ and manifesto of independence sent from Dhaka on March 17, 1971.

“The struggles for independence became irreversible with the participation of many people when Golap hoisted the flag of ‘Swadhin Bangla’ at the Deputy Commissioner’s residence on March 23, 1971,” Matiar said.

Simultaneously, the then Chhatra League leader Elias Ahmed hoisted the flag of ‘Swadhin Bangla’ at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Rangpur city.

On March 24, one Sahed Ali, a butcher by profession, suddenly snatched away a light machine gun from a Pakistani soldier and instantly hit Pakistani Lieutenant Abbas at Nisbetganj area in Rangpur when they were standing there by the side of their jeep.

“Lieutenant Abbas succumbed in the hospital that night and it was the first successful assault of the heroic Rangpur people on the occupation army,” Matiar added.

Valiant freedom fighter Majibar Rahman Master said three days after the March 25 crackdown at Dhaka, some 30,000 heroic people showed sparkling bravery by attacking Rangpur cantonment with indigenous weapons on March 28, 1971.