Jashore: On this day in 1971, valiant freedom fighters managed to liberate Jessore (now Jashore) from the occupation force of Pakistan after a nine month war.

Thus the district in the country’s south-west became the first to be liberated from the clutches of Pakistan.

Freedom fighters started returning to their homes in the town from different battle points and streamed into Town hall terrace in the district headquarters, holding the flags and festoons at their hands, reports the UNB.

District Administration, Muktijoddha Sangshad, political parties and different socio-cultural organisations of the districts have undertaken elaborate programs marking the day with their hearts swelled by the spirit of the Liberation War.

Under the liberation war sector no 8, fighters coming from all strata of life fought heroically under their commander Major MA Manzur in the frontline and freed the district from the clutches of the Pakistan occupation army without any resistance on December 6.

Sensing their imminent defeat, the enemy forces retreated towards Khulna by vacating Jashore Cantonment the previous night under the cover of darkness. The valiant freedom fighters and allied forces entered the town early in the morning. But they found the town bereft of Pakistani soldiers, as the forces led by captain of 9th Indian Division Major General Dalbir Singh got involved in face-to-face battles with the Pakistan forces that intimidated them into leaving.

Earlier, the national flag of Bangladesh was hoisted on top of the then-Jessore Collectorate building by a group of revolutionary students on March 3, 1971. Police opened fire on a militant procession on the day leaving one Charubala dead on the spot at Mike Patty in the town.