Today, 7th August, is local Martyr's Day of Jibannagar, Chuadanga. On this day of the Liberation War of 1971, a group of freedom fighters from Banpur, India, entered the Dhopakhali border of Jibannagar Upazila with the aim of liberating the motherland. 5 brave freedom fighters EPR jawans were martyred in the war.
The Pakistani invasion forces lost an equal number of soldiers in the battle. In the face of heavy fire and resistance from the liberation forces, the damaged Pak forces retreated.
Nizamuddin, a freedom fighter who took part in the Dhopakhali border war, said that according to the previous plan, Banpur sub-sector commander of sector No. 8, led by Captain (later the army chief, late Lt. Gen.) Mostafizur Rahman. Mustafa, EPR jawans and local freedom fighters including Azharul Karim Reju, Rezaul Karim Alo, Abul Kasem, Sadar Ali, Raic Uddin, Abdus Samad and Akhter Hossain of Darshan, Saidur Rahman of Jairampur village, Nizam Uddin of Jibannagar crossed the Dhopakhali border on August 7. entered this country.
But the local razakars of the Pak-invader forces got the news of the entry of the freedom fighters and rushed to the Pak camp. Pak captain appeared as a feared and hated person among the people of the area. The Razakars exposed the Mukti Bahini to Munchur Ali. At that time, Captain Munchur was waiting for the liberation army to arrive at Dhopakhali Bazar intersection with the soldiers of the terrible Baloch regiment. As soon as the Mukti Bahini entered Dhopkhali Bazar, the freedom fighters were taken by surprise when the Pakistani forces suddenly pounced on them. After taking the position, the Mukti Bahini counter-attacked and resisted, and a fierce battle began. After killing 5 soldiers of the Pakistani invasion force and causing heavy damage in the war, 5 freedom fighters of the freedom fighter group were martyred by the bullets of the invasion force.
The martyred 5 brave freedom fighters are - Habildar Abdul Gafur, Naik Abdul Rashid, Sepoy Abu Bakar, Sepoy Abdul Aziz and Sepoy Siddique Ali. The local villagers rescued the martyred 5 freedom fighters and buried Habildar Abdul Ghafoor next to the Dhopakhali Mosque and the other 4 in a grave at Nomans land on the Dhopakhali-Banpur border. However, their identity is yet to be revealed.
The captain who led the front line, then the army chief General (retd) Mostafizur Rahman visited Jibannagar on January 22, 1994 when he was the GOC of Jessore Army Headquarters and buried the martyred freedom fighters on his own initiative. Jibannagar upazila administration has taken various programs throughout the day to celebrate the day.