The Naogaon Free-Day was observed on Friday (December 18) amid mass enthusiasm and various programmes, including discussion, colourful procession and placing floral wreath and martyr memorial.
On the occasion, Ekushe Parishad Naogaon, a socio-cultural organisaiton in Naogaon, brought out a colourful procession in the district town. It ended at martyr memorial in the town. Later, members of the platform and others paid rich tributes to martyred freedom fighters of Liberation War in 1971 by placing wreaths at the martyr memorial.
A discussion was also held there with President of Ekushe Parishad DM Abdul Bari in the chair. Principal of Naogoan Govt College Shariful Islam Khan and others spoke on the occasion.
The people of Naogaon district got the taste of freedom on December 18 in 1971, two days after the nation’s final victory. The freedom fighters of Naogaon declared the district free by hoisting the national flag of independent Bangladesh atop the old Collectorate Office premises in the district town.
After a daylong close-quarters combat with Pakistani occupation forces on December 17, the freedom fighters entered the district along with the Indian army in the morning of December 18, and declared the
area free after nine-month of the Liberation War.
Although the whole country was freed on December 16, the freedom fighters were still barred from entering Naogaon by the Pakistani occupation forces with mortar shells raining down on the former.
Finally, almost 2,000 troops of the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to Indian army officer Major Chandra Shekhar on December 18 and the district was freed.
