Brahmanbaria Freedom Day was celebrated by Sahitya Academy. On Friday 8th December’23 at 4 pm local Surasmrat Di Alauddin Sangitangan Sarod Manch held floral felicitations, discussion, solo recital, group recital and prize distribution to the brave freedom fighters. Sahitya Academy president Kabi Jaidul Hossain presided over and Sohel Ahad moderated the discussion. Sahitya Academy advisor Bir Muktijoddha Shamsuddin Ahmed, member of the board of directors Bir Muktijoddha Asrarun Nabi Mubarak, vice president of Sahitya Academy Advocate Manik Ratan Sharma, member of the board of directors Nandita Guh, member Abdur Rahim, member Fazilatunnahar, board of directors member Farooq Ahmed Bhuiyan, executive member Jaminur Rahman, party convener Shamim Ahmed and PTI affiliated government primary school assistant teacher Raihana Islam. The main attraction of the program was led by Sahitya Akademi president Kavi Jaidul Hossain, the veteran freedom fighter of the country, camp in-charge of Tripura state’s Meghna camp, senior lawyer Advocate Hamidur Rahman (91) greeted him with flowers at his home as he was reaching old age, and veteran freedom fighter Shamsuddin Ahmed and veteran freedom fighter Asrarun Nabi Mubarak were seated on the stage of the program. Sahitya Academy president Jaydul Hossain and other discussants welcomed with flowers.
In the discussion, the speakers said, on this day in 1971, the city of Brahmanbaria was freed from the invaders. The city was reduced to ruins even before the invaders were freed. Dead bodies and corpses were lying in various places. After the liberation of Akhaura on December 6, a company of the Liberation Army advanced towards the city from the south of Brahmanbaria. By December 7, Pak forces were forced to leave the town of Brahmanbaria without a fight. On the morning of December 8, Mukti Bahini and Mitra Bahini entered the town of Brahmanbaria. In the morning, Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury, the head of the eastern zone of the liberation war, declared Brahmanbaria free from enemies by hoisting the flag of independent Bangladesh at the office of the then Sub-Divisional Administrator adjacent to the old Kachari Bhawan in Brahmanbaria. On December 3, a fierce battle took place at Azampur in Akhaura. 11 invaders were killed in this battle. Three freedom fighters were martyred. On December 4, as the Pak invaders retreated, Akhaura became largely enemy-free.
A part of the Liberation Army continued to advance from the south side of Brahmanbaria town along the Comilla- Sylhet highway and the Allied 57th Mounted Division advanced along the Akhaura-Brahmanbaria railway line and the Ujanissar road. The process of their escape started from the night of December 6. Before the afternoon of December 7, members of the Pakistani forces left Brahmanbaria and fled towards Ashuganj. On December 8, the brave freedom fighters entered Brahmanbaria town unhindered and hoisted the victory flag of independence. Brahmanbaria was liberated. People started running to find the missing men. One by one on the banks of Kuruliya, Shimrail Kandi, behind Government College. Mass graves are found here and there including Datiara Chadmari, Pairtala.
During the discussion, Sahitya Akademi members Ishwari Roy Chowdhury, Punyashri Roy Mochad, Ankhi Akhtar, Mushtari Jannat and Tausif Ahmed performed solo recitals. Based on poet Jaidul Hossain’s poem, written and directed by Ahsan Ullah Tamal, “Tomake Dharon korte Parini Bole” was performed by the large group of Sahitya Academy and “Bangladesh Eighteen” by Fazal Sahabuddin under the direction of Nusrat Bushra was performed by the small group. At the end of the event, prizes were distributed among the 5th class students of government primary school attached to PTI for the pure spelling competition.
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