LIBERATION WAR: Bhola

BHOLA, Dec 9: Bhola was freed from the Pakistani occupation forces on December 10 in 1971.
According to the freedom fighters (FFs) of the district, the occupation forces started to leave Bhola by a cargo in the early morning on December 10 after failing to resist the FFs in a a fierce fight that took place in the town. The cargo capsized in the River Meghna near Chandpur at 12 pm on that day.
As the occupied forces left the town, people from all walks of life came out of their houses and started chanting slogan 'Joy Bangla' in the streets and hoisted the flag in the then sub-divisional administrative office.
Md. Sadek, a front fighter, said before the Pakistani forces entered Bhola on May 2 in 1971, they had fired from a jet plane on April 12, in which two were killed and nearly 20 injured.
The Pak enemy would live in WAPDA rest house (Now WDB) in Jugir Ghol area of the town; they killed many innocent people including women and children with the help of their local collaborators.
Many skulls and bones were found in three mass-graves of the district. Among these, government only renovated the mass-grave behind WAPDA rest house; other two in Guingarhat and Banglabazar are not yet renovated.
Md. Shafiqul Islam, deputy commander of district unit Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Command Council, said that about 82 freedom fighters died in 1971.
To mark the day, the organisation has taken up different programmes including placing of wreaths on the martyrs' monument, bringing out a rally and holding a discussion on the Liberation War.