Gazipur Free Day today

Gazipur was freed from the Pakistani occupation forces on 15 December 1971, following a decisive frontal battle at the Chhoidana area between the allied forces and the Mukti Bahini against the Pakistani occupying army.

In the battle, heavy weapons, tanks and vehicles of the Pakistani army were destroyed, and a large number of enemy soldiers were killed. The severe losses suffered by the occupying forces in Gazipur, located near the capital, accelerated their final collapse and surrender, paving the way for the country's ultimate victory on 16 December. Since then, 15 December has been observed as Enemy-Free Day in Gazipur.

The people of Gazipur played a historic and courageous role in the Great Liberation War. Even before the formal declaration of independence, the first armed resistance against the Pakistani forces in the area took place on 19 March 1971. Following that resistance, the slogan "Take the path of Joydevpur, liberate Bangladesh" echoed across the country.

During the war, the Pakistani army maintained strong positions in Gazipur, including a cantonment at Bhawal Rajbari in Joydevpur, as well as control over the Ordinance Factory and Machine Tools Factory. Due to its strategic location adjacent to Dhaka, Gazipur remained a stronghold of the occupying forces until the final stage of the Liberation War.

After the brutal crackdown of 25 March, leaders and activists of various political parties, along with students, farmers, workers and other freedom-loving people of Gazipur, organised resistance and crossed into India for training. They later returned to fight the enemy at different points across the district.

Several significant engagements took place during the war. On 17 September, freedom fighters clashed with the Pakistani army and Razakars at the Mazukhan Rail Bridge. On 11 October, in the Dhirashram area, freedom fighters captured several Punjabi soldiers, detaining them at Demorpara. On the night of 14 October, about a mile of railway track was dismantled in Dhirashram, and mines were detonated near Joydevpur Junction, severing rail communication.

From November onward, freedom fighters intensified their coordinated attacks across Gazipur. They formed multiple groups, occupied strategic positions and launched planned assaults on Pakistani bases, including the Joydevpur cantonment, arms factory and the Rajendrapur ordnance depot.

On 8 December, freedom fighters blew up a train carrying arms and ammunition near Gazipur railway station, killing several Pakistani soldiers. Joint attacks on the Gazipur cantonment followed on 13 and 14 December, forcing the Pakistani army to abandon Joydevpur and attempt a retreat towards Dhaka.

Meanwhile, Pakistani forces retreating from the northern front-Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Tangail-under sustained attacks by the Mukti Bahini and Bangabir Quader Siddiqui's Kaderia Bahini, also moved towards Dhaka and regrouped at the Chandana intersection in Joydevpur. During their retreat, they destroyed bridges and culverts to slow the advancing forces.

As the Pakistani army destroyed the Kodda Bridge on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, the pursuing allied forces and Mukti Bahini repositioned at Kashimpur. Freedom fighters then dug bunkers along both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh road in Basan, Bhogra, Mogarkhal and Sharifpur villages, preparing a decisive ambush.

Former Gazipur Zilla Parishad chairman, former MP and freedom fighter Hasan Uddin Sarkar told BSS that on 15 December, a large Pakistani convoy of 25-26 vehicles left the Chandana intersection for Dhaka. As the convoy entered the ambush zone, freedom fighters and allied forces opened heavy artillery and mortar fire.

Caught between intense attacks from both sides of the road, the Pakistani army suffered devastating losses. Tanks, cannons, mortars, vehicles and large quantities of ammunition were destroyed, and numerous enemy soldiers were killed. The Battle of Chhoidana marked the biggest defeat of the Pakistani forces near Dhaka in the final phase of the Liberation War.

Four allied soldiers were martyred in the battle, remembered with deep respect and gratitude by the people of Gazipur.

With the victory at Chhoidana on 15 December 1971, Gazipur was declared enemy-free, adding a glorious chapter to the history of Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.