Feni, Meherpur, Sreebardi freed this day in ’71

Feni and Meherpur districts and Sreebardi Upazila in Sherpur District were freed from the clutches of Pakistani occupation forces on December 6, 1971.

FENI: Freedom fighters led by Lt Colonel (Rerd) Jafar Imam, Bir Bikram, along with freedom fighters, started to approach through Bilonia, Porshuram, Munsir Haat, and Fulgazi areas, causing a group of Pak army to retreat through Sonaimuri of Noakhali towards Cumilla cantonment and the other group through Shuvapur Bridge towards Chattogram.
On the other hand, the Mujib Bahini led by Feni Sub-Divisional Commander Prof Joynal Abedin started to approach through Dagonbhuiyan, Rajapur and Sindurpur towards Feni town.
On the face of fierce attack by the freedom fighters, the Pak army finally left Feni on the night of December 5, 1971, and Feni town was freed on December 6 morning.
To mark the day, various organisations chalked out different programmes.
Freedom Fighter Md Shahjahan said a list of freedom fighters was installed on Jail Road of the town but the names have been removed. District Muktijoddha Commander Mir Abdul Hannan said a process is on to preserve the mass graves of martyrs here.

MEHERPUR: The freedom fighters led by late General M A Manzur liberated the area. The troops including the valiant freedom fighters manoeuvred along the Meherpur borders in November 1971.The freedom fighters intensified their guerrilla attack to demoralise the Pak army.
A fierce battle happened in Ichhakhali-Buripota border areas in Sadar Upazila at the end of November, where the occupation forces suffered a heavy casualty. More than 50 Pak soldiers were killed in the attack. The freedom fighters managed to liberate entire Meherpur on December 6 and took control of the then sub-division.
The guerrillas with the assistance of the allied forces started to advance towards Meherpur on December 5 and the occupation forces started retreating on the day in the face of terrible attack.
They totally retreated from Meherpur at midnight on December 6. The defeated Pakistan soldiers damaged the Amjhupi Bridge on the Kazla River and Dinadatta Bridge on the Chewtia River located on the outskirts of the historical Amjhupi Village towards Chuadanga, the neighbouring district.
The people had passed the whole night in a horrific state and with a deep sentiment of pleasure to see the rising sun of independence. The whole town and surrounding areas were besieged by the valiant freedom fighters chanting slogan 'Joy Bangla' in a jubilant mood. People hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at dawn atop all private and public buildings.
When asked, Ataul Hakim Lal Miah, liberation war affairs secretary of District Awami League and advisor of District Muktijoddha Command Council, said various organisations chalked out different programmes to mark the day.
SHERPUR: On December 4, the freedom fighters along with the allied forces, led by 11 No Sector Commander Col Abu Taher attacked Pakistani forces as they took position in Sreebardi after defeating at Dhanua Kamalpur.
The Pakistani forces set up camps at Sreebardi, Bhayadanga, Jhagrar Char and Kurua. But they left the camps after being attacked by the freedom fighters and took position in Jamalpur on December 6.
Bir Pratik Jahurul Haque Munshi and Freedom Fighter Abdur Rezzak hoisted the victory flag from the branch of a tree at Abuarpara Village in Sreebordi Sadar Union early in the morning on December 6.