Kamalpur, a frontier area in Bakshiganj upazila under Jamalpur district, was liberated on December 4, 1971.
After a bloody battle with the Pakistan army, the allied forces captured Kamalpur. Since then, December 4 has been observed as Kamalpur Liberation Day every year.
This year no program will be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic, stated UNO Moon Moon Jahan Liza.
Freedom fighter Syed Sadruzzaman Helal (Bir Protik), who led 14 battles against the Pakistan army in the area, said the allied forces had entered Jamalpur and Sherpur districts after capturing the camp and hastened their liberation from the Pakistani occupation force.
Kamalpur was in the area of Sector 11. Maj. (later Colonel) Abu Taher was the Sector Commander. The headquarters of Sector 11 was situated at Mohendraganj in the state of Meghalay in India, only two kilometres away from the Kamalpur camp. The sector was divided into eight sub-sectors: Mohendraganj, Mankarchar, Purakasia, Dhalu, Bagmara, Shibbari, Rangra and Moheshkhali. Under the sector, 22,000 freedom fighters, including 3,000 regular forces, took part in the Liberation War.
Freedom fighters and the Pakistan army fought 18 bloody battles from June 12 to November 28 in the 1971 war at Kamalpur. In the battles 194 freedom fighters embraced martyrdom, including Captain Salah Uddin Momtaj. During the battles 497 Pakistani troops were also killed. Besides, Sector Commander Major Abu Taher lost one leg in a battle on November 14 at Kamalpur.
The Pakistani army fortified the camp with heavy weapons and troops as it was situated near Mohendraganj in India.
Before capturing the camp, the allied force made an attack on November 23. After a 10-day war the allied force overpowered the Pakistani army on the day in 1971 and captured Kamalpur, the most important camp of the Pakistani occupiers.
On that day, Ahasan Malik Khan, Garrison Commander, 31 Baluch Regiment, along with 162 soldiers and huge ammunition surrendered to Hardeb Shingh Clayer, Brigade Commander of the allied force.
Company Commander, freedom fighter Syed Sadruzzaman Helal, who led battles 14 times against the Pakistan army at Kamalpur camp said before surrender Bashir Ahmed carried a surrender letter to the army camp at 9 am. When he did not come back another freedom fighter Anisul Haque Akanda took a surrender letter to the army camp, he added. At last the Pakistan army was compelled to surrender in the afternoon on the day.
The company commander said after the fall of the camp allied force entered Jamalpur and Sherpur district and expedited their liberation from Pakistani occupation.