NETRAKONA, Dec 8, 2022 (BSS) - The historic day of December 9, 1971 is remembered as a "red letter day" for the people of Netrakona as the heroic freedom fighters freed the soil of the district from the occupation of the then Pakistani armed forces by driving away the occupation forces on the day. 

 Every year, local people celebrate Netrakona Liberation Day recalling a 'face-to-face battle' which concluded with hoisting of the flag of newly independent Bangladesh atop of all the public and private buildings of Netrakona. 

Like previous years, all out preparations have been taken here by the local people and freedom fighters as well as Netrakona district administration to celebrate the day with festivity.

 Netrakona district administration and district Muktizoddha Sangsad jointly chalked out elaborate programs to celebrate the day. 

The programs included placing of floral wreaths at the memorial monument of the martyred freedom fighters, bringing out colorful rally in the district town, holding of discussion meeting and organizing of musical soiree on patriotic songs.

Leaders of district Muktizoddha sangsad including former Commander of the district Muktijoddha Sangsad Nurul Amin told BSS in a reminiscence that the face-to-face fight started in Netrakona government agriculture farm area in the morning of December 9.

 Earlier, the freedom fighters along with allied Indian forces under the supervision of Indian military officer captain Chowhan cordoned off the district town on the night of December 8.

On December 9, a group of freedom fighters led by valiant freedom fighter Abu Siddique Ahmed took up position inside the agriculture farm and started firing targeting the Pakistani forces. After some time, the Pakistani forces aided by Razakers and Al-Badars opened fire on the freedom fighters indiscriminately.

After about two hours heavy fighting, the military forces were defeated and they fled towards Mymensingh district town. When, it was 11 am, the freedom fighters stormed into the Netrakona town amidst heroic civic reception and hoisted national flag atop of all the abandoned military and Razakers camps, they added.

Three valiant freedom fighters made their supreme sacrifice to secure victory in the front battle. The three martyred freedom fighters were Abdur Rashid, son of late Saderuddin of village Khatura, Abu Kha, son of late Hasan Kha of Gabragathi village and Abu Siddique alias Satter Miah son of late Domon Sheikh of the same village under the Netrakona Sadar upazila.

Another freedom fighter Khalilur Rahman Bir Protik said during the Liberation War, the Pakistani armed forces took control of the Netrakona town and setup a big base in the town with the help of local collaborators and resorted to mass killing here.

 The military forces also looted the houses of the freedom fighters, pro-liberation people and members of the Hindu community, he said.

Apart from looting of private and public properties and killing innocent people like birds, the vindictive Pak-military forces also torched their houses. The armed forces also picked up several hundreds of innocent women including teen-aged girls and housewives from different parts of the district and violated them with the help of collaborators including Razakers, Albadars and peace committee leaders.