Today is Manikganj liberation day. On December-13 in 1971, the district (the then sub-division) was freed from the clutches of the occupation Pakistan Army and got taste of freedom. This day, freedom fighters hoisted national flag atop the Primary Training Institute (PTI) in the town. People from all walks of life of Manikganj district will celebrate the day today with various programmes.
Immediately after the crackdown ‘OparationSarch Light’ on March-25 in 1971, the Pakistani troops entered all the seven upazilas headquarter in Manikgonj and captured traditional river port Aricha Ferry ghat, PTI and important establishments. As the news spread, people from the adjacent villages rushed to the town and rejoiced liberation of the area by chanting 'Joy Bangla' slogan with the freedom fighters.
Responding to the call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the people of Manikganj started non-cooperation movement against the Pakistan army and administration in March. Under the leadership of Captain Abdul Chowdhury the freedom fighters formed a unity named ‘BiplobiParisad’. On March 26, the members of BiplobiParisad attacked the Manikganj Treasury and looted all the fire arms and ammunitions and distributed those to the freedom
fighters at the premises of Captain Abdul Halim Chodhury’s cold store at South Sewta in the district town. The freedom fighters took position at Kouri village under Harirumpur Upazila 25 kilometers away from district town. Later they divided in many groups and engaged in fighting against the occupation forces in deferent areas. Several battles took place in the area and the occupation army aided by their local collaborators started massacre.
82 Pak soldiers were killed and 50 others were held with serious wound and recovered huge fire-arms and ammunitions in a fierce battle with freedom fighters at Golaidanga village in Singair upazila on October 28. Two freedom fighters-Alikar and Bodir lost their legs in the battle which was led by Engineer Tobarak Hossain Ludu, Lokman Hossain and Zahidur Rahman.
On November-22, the occupation forces attacked Terosree Village under Ghior Upazila and killed 43 innocent people including the Land Lord (Jaminder) of Terosree State BabuSiddheshwaryProsad Roy Chowdhury and Principal of Terosree College Atiar Rahman. They also burnt to ashes all the houses of the Village and 70 shops of Terosree Bazar.
Mohammed Ibrahim, Freedom fighters of Gilondo village in Manikganj Sadar Upazila, who had made an operation lonely and blew up Siddhirganj power house. After the independence, Mohammed Ibrahim, the war hero was awarded the country's gallantry award ‘BirProtik’ honors for his performances.
In the last week of November in 1971, freedom fighters defeated Pakistani occupation troops in a few battles. Then the freedom fighters from different areas entered the district headquarters and hoisted the Bangladesh flag and finally declared the sub-division (now district) free on December 13. During the Liberation War the Pakistan occupation army with the help of their local collaborators killed several hundreds innocent people and freedom fighters in different areas of the district.
To keep the memory of the freedom fighters and martyrs, local unit of MuktijuddahSangsad built a Liberation War Memorial titled ‘MuktijuddahSmiritiSaudha’ at Manikgonj Bus stand in 1993. It was,
later, shifted and re-built at in front of Shaheed Tapon-Miraj Stadium in the town. The Monument bore only 35 names of martyr but many others remains out of the Monument even now, the freedom fighters alleged.
Chaiman of ManikganjZila Parishad and President of district Awami League, also a veteran freedom fighter Advocate Golam Mohiuddin whoever said full fledged list of the freedom fighters was not made even after 46 years of Liberation War. The freedom fighters are ignored in the society, he added.
The people of Manikganj celebrate the day every year with great joy, pride enthusiasm as the flag of the independent Bangladesh fluttered in the free sky of Manikganj at first after nine months grim battle against the occupation forces. Freedom fighters and different social and cultural organisations have undertaken various programmes including discussions and cultural functions to remember 'Manikganj free day'. The programmes include bringing out colourful rally on December 13 morning, discussions on the War of Liberation and cultural functions, according to sources.