S M Shafiqul Islam, Joypurhat:
December 14 is the day of liberation of Joypurhat from invaders. On this day, the Pakistani soldiers fled from Joypurhat towards Bogra and Sirajganj after being chased by the freedom fighters. Then, under the leadership of the then late freedom fighter commander Asaduzzaman Bagha Bablu, the freedom fighters hoisted the victory flag of independence at the local post office bungalow and declared Joypurhat free from invaders.
It is known that in 1971, the Pakistani invading army came to the then subdivision Joypurhat by train from Santahar. Then, with the help of local Razakars, they carried out massacres, rapes, arson and looting in various places in the district. At that time, on the day of Jumma prayers, the Pakistani army abducted more than fifty worshippers from the mosque and killed them indiscriminately in the Pagla Dewan area near the Indian border in Chakbarkat Union of Sadar Upazila. In addition, the Pakistani army brutally killed hundreds of refugees while moving through this area near the Indian border. Many structures, including the bunker, still stand there as witnesses to the times.
On the other hand, in the village of Karai Kadipur in Bombu Union of Sadar Upazila, the Pakistani army lined up 371 Hindu potters and brutally shot them dead. The local Razakars and Al Badrs helped in this. At that time, the local Razakars set fire to their houses and looted them.
District freedom fighters Abdul Baten, Jiten Kumar Mandal, Abdul Jabbar, Birendranath Pramanik, Amal Chandra Mahanta and some others said, “Even after liberating the country, many of us freedom fighters are still neglected. Again, some freedom fighters are seen being humiliated. This is not desirable in any way. If the liberation war is forgotten, Bangladesh will be denied. Therefore, our request to the next generation is that they protect our independence.”
Sadar Upazila Freedom Fighter Commander Mojibul Haque Majnu said, “On December 13, the victory flag was hoisted at Panchbibi under the leadership of freedom fighter Motaleb. The next day, on December 14, Joypurhat was declared free from invaders under the leadership of Bagha Bablu and the victory flag was hoisted at Sadar Dak Bungalow. Our request to the current generation is that they protect their independence.”
