Cumilla free day today
Freedom fighters declared Cumilla free when the district's first administrator Advocate Ahmed Ali hoisted the national flag of the independent Bangladesh on the Town Hall field.
Today (8 December) is Cumilla Liberation Day as on this day in 1971, Cumilla, Chandpur and Brahmanbaria-the then greater Cumilla district-were freed from the occupation of the Pakistan army.
Freedom fighters declared Cumilla free when the district's first administrator Advocate Ahmed Ali hoisted the national flag of the independent Bangladesh on the Town Hall field.
According to the history of the Liberation War, allied forces and freedom fighters launched a coordinated attack from three sides on the Pakistan army's 22 Baluch Regiment stationed at the Cumilla Airport on the night of 7 December.
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The operation was led by Lt Col RK Mazumdar of the allied forces' 11 Regiment.
According to the documented history of the Liberation War, one group led by Lieutenant Didarul Alam advanced through the border area of Bibir Bazar, while two other groups crossed the River Gomti and entered through Bhatarpara in the city and through Bagherchar in Chauddagram, launching attacks on the Pakistani army base at the airport.
Despite reinforcements rushed from the nearby Mainamati Cantonment, the Pakistani troops failed to withstand the joint assault.
After fierce overnight fighting, the Pakistan army abandoned its defensive positions and retreated towards Mainamati before dawn. Several bodies of Pakistani soldiers were found around the airport area the following morning.
A total of 26 freedom fighters were martyred in the battle. By daybreak, the airport's main base fell under the control of the freedom fighters, prompting widespread jubilation among local residents.
Cumilla District Commander of Freedom Fighters, Safiul Alam Babul, said, "Cumilla was liberated at dawn on 8 December. We entered Cumilla from Agartala-Sonamura on foot. The people welcomed the freedom fighters with flowers."
Valiant Freedom Fighter Monirul Haque Chowdhury, also the BNP-nominated candidate for the Cumilla-6 constituency, said, "Greater Cumilla was freed even before the country's victory on 16 December. My heartfelt greetings to the people of Cumilla on this Liberation Day."
