First taste of triumph: Jashore liberated from the occupation forces

The nation is celebrating the historic Jashore Liberation Day on Friday (December 6). On this day in 1971, Jashore became the first district to be liberated from the clutches of the Pakistani occupying forces. The occupiers fled the cantonment soon after noon and the first flag of victorious Bangladesh was hoisted there.

District Administration, Muktijoddha Sangshad, political parties, and different socio-cultural organisations observed elaborate programs marking the day with their hearts swelled by the spirit of the Liberation War.

Rabiul Alam, deputy commander of Mujib Bahini of the Greater Jashore District (Jashore, Jhenaidah, Magura, and Narail), said that on December 3, 4, and 5 in 1971, fierce battles were fought between the Pakistani army and the freedom fighters in various places in the region. The allied forces also carried out airstrikes and shelling on Pakistani installations, including the Jashore Cantonment, from the border area.

The Pakistani forces left the cantonment and fled in disarray towards Gilatola Cantonment in Khulna. While fleeing the battlefield, they faced Mukti Bahini at various places including Rajarhat in the suburbs on December 5 and 6.

Before the afternoon of December 6, the Pakistani invaders completely evacuated the cantonment. In the afternoon, the Allied Forces and Mukti Bahini, led by General Barat, the Commander of the Allied Forces, entered the cantonment and took control over it.

When this news spread, a crowd of freedom fighters and mass people started entering the city. Fragmented joyous processions were also held in the neighborhoods. The people of the entire district burst with joy with'Jai Bangla' slogan.

During the turbulent war preparations of 1971, a procession was taken out on the main road in front of the Jashore Collectorate on March 3. The people of the region took an oath to join the liberation war. Charubala Kar was martyred when the Pakistani occupying forces opened fire on this procession. He was the first martyr of the district in the freedom struggle.

From then on, resistance began to be organized and Sangram Parishad led the movement. Military training was given to students, youth, and women.

On the night of March 26, the Pakistani executioner force captured the then National Parliament member Mashiur Rahman from his residence, took him to the cantonment, and brutally killed him. On March 29, the Pakistani soldiers left the city and went to the cantonment. The next day, on March 30, the Bengali soldiers of the cantonment declared a mutiny under the leadership of Captain Hafiz. Many people, including Lieutenant Anwar, were martyred in the fierce battle with the Pakistani forces.

On March 31, a huge procession of thousands of people from Narail came to Jashore town. With the help of the townspeople, the armed procession attacked the Central Jail and released all the prisoners.

The course of the Liberation War changed in July. The trained freedom fighters launched fierce attacks on the positions of the Pakistani forces in the town and other areas.

Major Manjur was the commander of Jashore, the eighth battlefield of the Liberation War. On the other hand, Brigadier Hayat Khan of Brigade No. 107 was leading the Pakistani forces. The occupation forces controlled six districts from Jashore Cantonment.

On November 20, the Mukti Bahini and the Allied Forces launched a joint operation to capture the cantonment. The combined forces surrounded Chaugachha, the strong base of the Pakistani forces in the western area. Chaugachha fell on the night of November 22. The Pakistani invading forces set up a forward base in Salua Bazar. The Allied Forces and Mukti Bahini established strong bases on three sides of the cantonment. The commander of the Pakistani forces in the region, Brigadier Hayat Khan, fearing for his life, shifted his office to Khulna.

The resistance war ended on December 6, and the Pakistani forces fled towards Khulna. Jashore was liberated and the first flag of the Independent Bangladesh was hoisted over the war-torn town as the first one.