Rajshahi, Pabna had to wait for two more days

Friday, December 18, 2009

The nation as a whole had the final victory on December 16 in 1971 but the people of Rajshahi and Pabna had to wait for two more days to have the taste of freedom as the Pakistani occupation troops were desperately holding on a few camps there.

On the night of December 17 and early December 18, Pakistani forces fled to Natore from Shahid Shamsuzzoha Hall of Rajshahi University, their last camp in Rajshahi, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.

Local people rescued a number of injured people including many tortured and abused women from the hall.

The Pakistani forces surrendered to the allied forces in Natore on December 20.

Sporadic clashes between the local people and Pakistani forces started in early March of 1971.

On March 28, Pak forces killed a number of policemen at Rajshahi Police Lines for their refusal to surrender arms.

As the freedom fighters under leadership of the then Captain Giasuddin Chowdhury and Captain Rashid started resisting the occupation forces, the latter had to remain confined to Rajshahi Cantonment from April 3 to 13.

On April 13, a huge Pak army from Dhaka broke the freedom fighters' resistance.

During the next several months, the barbaric army killed a number of people including freedom fighters and many mass graves were later found around Rajshahi town and different areas of the district.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=118196