BSS, Chittagong :
Chittagong which burst into the first armed liberation struggle across the country reached its peak on this day in 1971 when Sam Manekshaw, the first Field Marshal of Indian defense forces launched psychological war with quick-witted strategy to exert more pressure on Pakistani occupation forces.
The liberation struggling people in Chittagong were re-energized and subsequently became death defying the moment they hear the speech of the Indian army chief, made as part of new technique were broadcasting frequently through various medium of communications with basic objective to weaken the mental strength of the Pakistani occupation forces.
” Hatiyar Dal dow (give up your arms ), surrender and we have cordoned you off ” this was the voice of Manekshaw frequently broadcast from wireless, radio and other transmission equipments in the war fields for the Pak forces, ” freedom fighter (FF) and journalist Nasiruddin Chowdhury recounted the reminiscence of those days to BSS.
Also an author of 1440 pages book titled ” Chittagong in Liberation War ” FF Nasiruddin said the basic technique of the psychological war was to reach the Manekshaw’s brief speech (give up your arms ) to the hears of all warring Pakistani forces so that they are mentally broken down.
Nasiruddin a tortured FF in Dalim Hotel (torture cell) by late war criminal Mir Kashem Ali said the strategy of the war was macroscopically meant to all war fighters the creation of a favourable environment so that the achievement of the national aim is facilitated.
As part of the struggle, Indian joint force repaired the damaged Shubopur bridge within two days (December 7) and the force along with 4th Bengal crossed the river through the bridge and river ways accompanying the first Golandaz Bahini of Bangladesh Mujib Battery.
The Freedom Fighters (FF) of the joint forces planned to enter Chittagong city through simultaneous series attacks on the Pakistani forces with 4th Bengal Mujib Battery with their road map through Mirsarai, Howaku, Nazirhat and Dhaka -Chittagong highway. The FF faced huge resistance from the Pakistani occupation forces when they started to free Fatikchari, Feni and Noakhali one after another but finally Pak forces were defeated and forced to retreat in the face of strong confrontation by the liberation struggle heroes. The marauding Pakistani occupation forces on December 9 committed dreadful massacre and attack on freedom fighters in Zoraogonj union under Mirarsari upazila of Chittagong district and the grisly attack and crimes against humanity still haunts the survivors freedom fighters and eyewitness.
The occupation forces killed 12 valiant freedom fighters and injured many freedom fighters in the fag end of liberation war and damaged nearly 13 bridges including Shovopur bridge to halt the advancement of the joint forces which tried to enter Chittagong through Fatikchari.
Veteran freedom fighter of the locality Ohidul Hoque said the occupation forces with collaborators, razakars, al-badars and al-shams suddenly attacked and killed 12 local freedom fighters injured nearly 30 other freedom fighters who assembled at the said area to welcome the joint forces who entered by the Fatichari frontier. But their heinous sudden attack on innocent freedom fighters could not halt to defeat the occupation forces, he added.
Relatives of these martyrs, survivors and eyewitness of the massacre still tremble while narrating the heinous attack as the war criminals also burnt and damaged many bridges and burnt houses to ashes, violated women in the way side villages there.
Commander of Chittagong district unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Shahab Uddin, said on information from local collaborators, the occupation forces conducted the massacre in Zorargonj union under Sector No-1 was a safe place for the freedom fighters, who set up camps there and local villagers assisted them during the War of Liberation in 1971.
The occupation forces attacked on freedom fighters when soldier of 4th and 10th East Bengal Regiment led by the then captain Mahfuj, reached Zorargonj village and met with Indian allied forces of 32 Maratha Regiment.
Later, the freedom fighters and allied forces jointly attacked on occupation forces in the night of Dec 9 and they started retreating .
The occupation forces conducted door-to-door combing operations and captured many Bengalese irrespective of caste, creed and religion, set fire and looted properties, violated women on their way back to the port city.
“Pak forces damaged many bridges on their way back to port city but the joint forces could not move them into the port city. The occupation forces wanted to take the control of Chittagong as their last resort but the joint forces foiled their attempt and saved Chittagong from the occupation” , Shahab Uddin added.
Earlier, the three day long bombing by the joint forces naval, Chittagong port and airport areas burnt huge oil depot and godowns where Pak forces stored huge food grains and oil for them , shahabuddin said. The bombing gradually weakened their mental strength and they got disappointed and subdued , Shahab Uddin added.
Chittagong which burst into the first armed liberation struggle across the country reached its peak on this day in 1971 when Sam Manekshaw, the first Field Marshal of Indian defense forces launched psychological war with quick-witted strategy to exert more pressure on Pakistani occupation forces.
The liberation struggling people in Chittagong were re-energized and subsequently became death defying the moment they hear the speech of the Indian army chief, made as part of new technique were broadcasting frequently through various medium of communications with basic objective to weaken the mental strength of the Pakistani occupation forces.
” Hatiyar Dal dow (give up your arms ), surrender and we have cordoned you off ” this was the voice of Manekshaw frequently broadcast from wireless, radio and other transmission equipments in the war fields for the Pak forces, ” freedom fighter (FF) and journalist Nasiruddin Chowdhury recounted the reminiscence of those days to BSS.
Also an author of 1440 pages book titled ” Chittagong in Liberation War ” FF Nasiruddin said the basic technique of the psychological war was to reach the Manekshaw’s brief speech (give up your arms ) to the hears of all warring Pakistani forces so that they are mentally broken down.
Nasiruddin a tortured FF in Dalim Hotel (torture cell) by late war criminal Mir Kashem Ali said the strategy of the war was macroscopically meant to all war fighters the creation of a favourable environment so that the achievement of the national aim is facilitated.
As part of the struggle, Indian joint force repaired the damaged Shubopur bridge within two days (December 7) and the force along with 4th Bengal crossed the river through the bridge and river ways accompanying the first Golandaz Bahini of Bangladesh Mujib Battery.
The Freedom Fighters (FF) of the joint forces planned to enter Chittagong city through simultaneous series attacks on the Pakistani forces with 4th Bengal Mujib Battery with their road map through Mirsarai, Howaku, Nazirhat and Dhaka -Chittagong highway. The FF faced huge resistance from the Pakistani occupation forces when they started to free Fatikchari, Feni and Noakhali one after another but finally Pak forces were defeated and forced to retreat in the face of strong confrontation by the liberation struggle heroes. The marauding Pakistani occupation forces on December 9 committed dreadful massacre and attack on freedom fighters in Zoraogonj union under Mirarsari upazila of Chittagong district and the grisly attack and crimes against humanity still haunts the survivors freedom fighters and eyewitness.
The occupation forces killed 12 valiant freedom fighters and injured many freedom fighters in the fag end of liberation war and damaged nearly 13 bridges including Shovopur bridge to halt the advancement of the joint forces which tried to enter Chittagong through Fatikchari.
Veteran freedom fighter of the locality Ohidul Hoque said the occupation forces with collaborators, razakars, al-badars and al-shams suddenly attacked and killed 12 local freedom fighters injured nearly 30 other freedom fighters who assembled at the said area to welcome the joint forces who entered by the Fatichari frontier. But their heinous sudden attack on innocent freedom fighters could not halt to defeat the occupation forces, he added.
Relatives of these martyrs, survivors and eyewitness of the massacre still tremble while narrating the heinous attack as the war criminals also burnt and damaged many bridges and burnt houses to ashes, violated women in the way side villages there.
Commander of Chittagong district unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Shahab Uddin, said on information from local collaborators, the occupation forces conducted the massacre in Zorargonj union under Sector No-1 was a safe place for the freedom fighters, who set up camps there and local villagers assisted them during the War of Liberation in 1971.
The occupation forces attacked on freedom fighters when soldier of 4th and 10th East Bengal Regiment led by the then captain Mahfuj, reached Zorargonj village and met with Indian allied forces of 32 Maratha Regiment.
Later, the freedom fighters and allied forces jointly attacked on occupation forces in the night of Dec 9 and they started retreating .
The occupation forces conducted door-to-door combing operations and captured many Bengalese irrespective of caste, creed and religion, set fire and looted properties, violated women on their way back to the port city.
“Pak forces damaged many bridges on their way back to port city but the joint forces could not move them into the port city. The occupation forces wanted to take the control of Chittagong as their last resort but the joint forces foiled their attempt and saved Chittagong from the occupation” , Shahab Uddin added.
Earlier, the three day long bombing by the joint forces naval, Chittagong port and airport areas burnt huge oil depot and godowns where Pak forces stored huge food grains and oil for them , shahabuddin said. The bombing gradually weakened their mental strength and they got disappointed and subdued , Shahab Uddin added.
