Khulna: Historical Khulna Freedom Day is Sunday (December 17). On this day in 1971, this district was liberated from the control of the Pakistani occupation forces.
Khulna was liberated from the enemy a day after the Pakistani invasion forces formally surrendered at Dhaka’s Race Course Maidan on December 16, 1971, after a bloody nine-month war. On December 17, Pakistani army officer Brigadier Hayat Khan announced the end of the war by ordering the surrender of arms.
Pakistanis fell in Khulna, and Khulna was liberated. On that day, the flag of victory flew in Khulna. Even on the night of December 16, Khulna was shaken by tanks, cannons, bombs, and ammunition. At that time, the allied forces and Mukti Bahini fought in Khulna’s Shiromani, Gallamari Radio Station (Khulna University area), Lions School, Boyar Post Master General’s Colony area, Jetty number 7 area, Noornagar Wapda (Water Development Board) building, Goalpara, Goalkhali, Daulatpur, In various areas including Tutpara, New Fire Brigade Station. On the last night of December 16, two freedom fighters were seriously injured in the battle that took place at Gallamari at the entrance of Khulna.
A launch of freedom fighters arrived from the Batiaghata camp in the Rupsa River near the shipyard in the early hours of December 17. But Pakistani soldiers lurking in the shipyard attacked and opened fire on the launch. Mukti Bahini also got off the launch took position in the paddy fields across the shipyard and fired back. A freedom fighter was killed and 16 people were injured in the exchange of fire from both sides. Some soldiers of the Pak army were killed and injured in this battle.
Finally, overcoming all the obstacles, the freedom fighters started to enter Khulna City on the morning of 17th December. After occupying the Khulna circuit house, Major Zainul Abedin and Rahmat Ullah Dadu jointly hoisted the flag of independent Bengal at the circuit house. Freedom fighters SM Babar Ali, Abul Kalam Azad, Rezaul Karim, Gazi Rafiqul Islam, etc. hoisted the flag of independent Bengal at Hadis Park. Eight hours before the allied forces entered Khulna city, the invading forces were forced to surrender to the freedom fighters.
Number nine sector commander Major MA Jalil, Captain Huda, Dr. Shajahan Mustafa, and some others went to the Allied headquarters in Khalishpur and met General Dalbir Singh. Then Brigadier Hayat Ali Khan of the Pak Army informed that he had agreed to surrender along with his forces. After discussing the issue of surrender, Brigadier Hayat told his Brigade Major Feroze, “Order all soldiers to surrender their arms.” The war is over. After that, Brigadier Hyatt left for Circuit House Maidan from the office of Khulna Newspaper Mill.
Defeated and defeated troops of Pak forces also marched towards Circuit House Maidan. The road was flooded with young and old men and women. Everyone is running towards Khulna Circuit House Maidan. On December 17, after the surrender of the Pak forces at the Circuit House Maidan, the liberation crowd erupted in joy and happiness.
As the city of Khulna was liberated, the freedom-crazed crowd started chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ from all around. Independence flags started flying in the open air of Khulna city. This flag soaked in the blood of millions of martyrs is still fluttering in the sky and wind of Khulna.
Meanwhile, Gunijan Smriti Parishad has organized a discussion meeting on the commemoration of 71 years in the conference room of BMA building at Saat Street intersection of Khulna on Sunday (December 17). The discussion meeting is scheduled to start at 4 pm.
